Fundamental Studies on the Decontamination and Detoxification of Oil Sands Process-Affected Water Using Ozonation and Advanced Oxidation

由于储油砂过程影响水(OSPW)在环境中的毒性和持久性，OSPW的长期管理引起了人们的关注。为了解决与回收和/或安全地将处理后的OSPW排放到环境中有关的环境问题，需要新的和创新的工程水处理技术和方法。拟议研究计划的总体目标是利用臭氧和高级氧化工艺(AOPS)在油砂尾矿废水处理领域进行全面的基础研究，以净化OSPW并减少其对哺乳动物和水生物种的毒理影响。这项研究计划的目标包括：(1)开发先进的分析方法来表征OSPW中以前从未发现的异构体和其他有机物种；(2)开发OSPW中存在的有机化合物的顺序多步骤分离程序，以首次确定它们的组成分布模式；(3)通过实验和理论研究预测分子臭氧和自由基物种与不同OSPW有机部分的反应活性；(4)研究均相臭氧氧化和AOPS对不同OSPW有机部分去向的影响；以及(5)研究处理前后OSPW有机部分对哺乳动物和水生生物的毒理影响。这项研究计划将提供基本的工程和科学知识，导致油砂作业的环境可持续发展。此外，对OSPW有机组分命运的了解，以及对OSPW对哺乳动物和水生生物的毒理影响的全面分析，可能直接与OSPW暴露于人类和水生物种有关的潜在风险有关，使政府监管机构能够为保护环境和公共健康制定指导方针。此外，拟议的研究方案将培训高素质的人员，在油砂尾矿水处理领域提供最好的教育机会。

The long-term management of stored oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) is of concern due to the toxicity and persistence of OSPW organic fractions in the environment. To address the environmental issues associated with the recycling and/or safe discharge of the treated OSPW into the environment, new and innovative engineered water treatment technologies and approaches are required. The overall goal of the proposed Research Program is to conduct a comprehensive fundamental research in the area of oil sands tailings water treatment by using ozonation and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the decontamination of OSPW and reduction of its toxicological impacts on mammals and aquatic species. The objectives of this Research Program include: (1) development of advanced analytical methods to characterize isomers and other organic species never identified before in OSPW; (2) development of a sequential multistep fractionation procedure of organic compounds present in OSPW to determine, for the first time, their compositional distribution patterns; (3) predictions of the reactivity of molecular ozone and radical species with different OSPW organic fractions through experimental and theoretical studies; (4) investigation of the effects of homogeneous ozonation and AOPs on the fate of different OSPW organic fractions; and (5) examination of the toxicological impacts of OSPW organic fractions, before and after treatment, on mammals and aquatic organisms. This Research Program will provide the fundamental engineering and scientific knowledge, leading to the environmentally sustainable development of the oil sands operations. In addition, the understanding of the fate of OSPW organic fractions together with the comprehensive analysis of the toxicological effects of OSPW on mammals and aquatic organisms may be directly linked to potential risks associated with OSPW exposures to humans and aquatic species, allowing government regulators to set guidelines for the protection of both the environment and public health. Moreover, the proposed Research Program will provide training of highly qualified personnel, with the finest educational opportunities in the area of oil sands tailings water treatment.