Development of a passive, plant-based naphthenic acid remediation technology for treatment of oil sands process-affected water.

从北方阿尔伯塔的油砂区域进行沥青的露天开采使用的提取工艺导致储存在尾矿池中的大量油砂工艺影响水（OSPW）的积累。除了盐、重金属和无机化合物之外，OSPW还含有复杂的有机化合物混合物，通常被称为“环烷酸”（NAs），对生物体有毒。在毒性降低到可接受的水平之前，不能将OSPW释放到环境中。油砂开采业已确定NA组件作为OSPW补救的主要目标，并专注于开发被动，低投入OSPW补救approaches.This proposal describes research aimed at determining capacity of selected高地plant species to removal NAs from OSPW in an irrigated soil environment.这种被动的、以植物为基础的方法代表了一种低投入的绿色技术，可以与油砂开采业中使用的其他已建立和正在开发的补救方法一起实施。它利用植物和相关微生物的高级代谢能力来修复土壤。这种新型生物技术符合油砂开采业的被动修复目标，并有可能每年处理数百万立方米的OSPW。这种生物技术的成功实施可以帮助满足油砂开采公司的NA补救目标，并将加强该行业作为加拿大经济对环境负责的贡献者的声誉。这项研究跨越生物化学，植物生理生态学，土地复垦和采矿工程方面的领域。因此，它将支持和发展加拿大未来领导人在绿色技术解决方案方面的培训，并在加拿大油砂工业的清洁增长以及先进的生物技术部门创造新的就业机会。

Surface mining of bitumen from the oil sands region in northern Alberta uses an extraction process that results in the accumulation of large volumes of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) that is stored in tailings ponds. In addition to salts, heavy metals, and inorganic compounds, OSPW contains a complex mixture of organic compounds often loosely referred to as 'naphthenic acids' (NAs) that are toxic to living organisms. OSPW cannot be released into the environment until the toxicity is reduced to acceptable levels. The oil sands mining industry has identified the NA component as a primary target for OSPW remediation, and is focused on developing passive, low-input OSPW remediation approaches.This proposal describes research aimed at determining the capacity of selected upland plant species to remediate NAs from OSPW in an irrigated soil environment. This passive, plant-based approach represents a low-input, green technology that could be implemented alongside other established and developing remediation approaches used in the oil sands mining industry. It takes advantage of the advanced metabolic capacity of plants and associated microbes to remediate soils. This novel biotechnology aligns with the passive remediation goals of the oil sands mining industry, and has the potential to treat millions of cubic meters of OSPW annually. Successful implementation of this biotechnology could assist in meeting the NA remediation goals of oil sands mining companies, and will strengthen the reputation of the industry as an environmentally responsible contributor to the Canadian economy. This research spans the fields of biochemistry, plant ecophysiology, land reclamation and aspects of mining engineering. Thus, it will support and develop the training of Canada's future leaders in green technology solutions, and create new jobs in the clean growth of Canada's oil sands industry as well as advanced biotechnology sector.