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Physicochemical Gradients, Diffusive Flux And Biostabilization Of Oil Sands Tailings Material, Thomas Reid
Physicochemical Gradients, Diffusive Flux And Biostabilization Of Oil Sands Tailings Material, Thomas Reid
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Extraction of raw bitumen from the Athabasca Oil Sands through open-pit mining produces waste materials called tailings, which are housed in large settling basins called tailings ponds. As consolidation of fines (sands, silts and clays) occurs, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and an overall REDOX environment establishes, as with any natural wetland or lake sediment environment. These biogeochemical processes play a role in the dynamic nature of these tailings ponds over time, and directly implicate the future fate of these ponds as they are prepared for reclamation to wetlands or End-Pit Lake environments. This thesis tracks general chemistry and physico-chemical gradients …
Bio-Physicochemical Effects Of Gamma Irradiation Treatment For Naphthenic Acids In Oil Sands Fluid Fine Tailings, Ryan Nicholas Boudens
Bio-Physicochemical Effects Of Gamma Irradiation Treatment For Naphthenic Acids In Oil Sands Fluid Fine Tailings, Ryan Nicholas Boudens
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Naphthenic acids (NA) are components of most petroleum, including those found in the Athabasca oil sands and in some systems are considered to be persistent compounds. Their presence in the environment can pose significant problems since freshly released NAs are toxic to aquatic organisms. In this investigation gamma irradiation (GI) was used to reduce the toxicity and concentration of NAs in oil sand tailings and assess the impact on biogeochemical processes. GI reduced NA concentration by up to 97% in Oil Sands Process Water (OSPW) and 85% in fluid fine tailings (FFT). Dissolved oxygen flux was stimulated directly in the …