UV Photocatalytic Degradation of Commercial Naphthenic Acid Using TiO₂-Zeolite Composites

Kennedy K. Kalebaila^*, Craig Fairbridge

Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY, Devon, Canada.

DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2014.612109                

Abstract

The presence of naphthenic acids in oil sand products and process streams is the cause of toxicity to aquatic life and corrosion. The removal of organic acids from tailings pond water reduces the negative impact on marine life. The ultra-violet (UV) photocatalytic reduction of commercial naphthenic acid in water using TiO₂-zeolitecomposites showed a significant decrease in the concentration of naphthenic acid, accompanied by an increase in carbon dioxide formation; the presence of carbon dioxide signifies degradation of the naphthenic acids. Mixtures of the acid and photocatalyst kept in the dark did not show any concentration changes. The extent of naphthenic acid reduction by UV light was verified by the reduction in total acidity. The total acidity values of mixtures of the acid and TiO₂-zeoliteexposed to UV decreased by 31% compared to mixtures kept in the dark. A reduction in total acidity may lead to a decrease in the toxicity of naphthenic acid contaminated water.

Keywords

Naphthenic Acid Conversion, GC-MS, TAN, Diffuse Reflectance, TiO₂-Zeolite

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Clemente, J.S. and Fedorak, P.M. (2005) A Review of the Occurrence, Analyses, Toxicity, and Biodegradation of Naphthenic Acids. Chemosphere, 60, 585-600. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.02.065
[2]	Kamaluddin, M. and Zwiazek, J.J. (2002) Naphthenic Acids Inhibit Root Water Transport, Gas Exchange and Leaf Growth in Aspen (Populus Tremuloides) Seedlings. Tree Physiology, 22, 1265-1270. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/treephys/22.17.1265
[3]	Biryukova, O.V., Fedorak, P.M. and Quideau, S.A. (2007) Biodegradation of Naphthenic Acids by Rhizosphere Microorganisms. Chemosphere, 67, 2058-2064. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.11.063
[4]	Johnson, R.J., Smith, B.E., Sutton, P.A., McGenity, T.J., Rowland, S.J. and Whitby, C. (2011) Microbial Biodegradation of Aromatic Alkanoic Naphthenic Acids is Affected by the Degree of AlkylSide Chain Branching. ISME Journal, 5, 486-496. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2010.146
[5]	Scott, A.C., Mackinnon, M.D. and Fedorak, P.M. (2005) Naphthenic Acids in Athabasca Oil Sands Tailings Waters Are Less Biodegradable than Commercial Naphthenic Acids. Environmental Science Technology, 39, 8388-8394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es051003k
[6]	McKenzie, N., Yue, S., Liu, X., Ramsay, B.A. and Ramsay, J.A. (2014) Biodegradation of Naphthenic Acids in Oils Sands Process Waters in an Immobilized Soil/Sediment Bioreactor. Chemosphere, 109, 164-172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.02.001
[7]	Headley, J.V., Du, J.L., Peru, K.M. and McMartin, D.W. (2009) Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry of the Photodegradation of Naphthenic Acids Mixtures Irradiated with Titanium Dioxide. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering, 44, 591-597. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10934520902784625
[8]	McMartin, D.W., Headley, J.V., Friesen, D.A., Peru, K.M. and Gillies, J.A. (2004) Photolysis of Naphthenic Acids in Natural Surface Water. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering, 39, 1361-1383. http://dx.doi.org/10.1081/ESE-120037839
[9]	Mishra, S., Meda, V., Dalai, A.K., McMartin, D.W., Headley, J.V. and Peru, K.M. (2010) Photocatalysis of Naphthenic Acids in Water. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 2, 644-650. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2010.27074
[10]	Allen, E.W. (2008) Process Water Treatment in Canada’s Oil Sands Industry: II. A Review of Emerging Technologies. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science, 7, 499-524. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/S08-020
[11]	Bahnemann, D. (2004) Photocatalytic Water Treatment: Solar Energy Applications. Solar Energy, 77, 445-459. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2004.03.031
[12]	Kalebaila, K.K. and Klabunde, K.J. (2010) An Inorganic Oxide TiO2-SiO2-Mn Aerogel for Visible-Light Induced Air Purification. In: Erickson, L.E., Koodali, R.T. and Richards, R.M., Nanoscale Materials in Chemistry: Environmental Applications, American Chemical Society, Washington DC, 207-223.
[13]	Zhang, W., Zou, L. and Wang, L. (2009) Photocatalytic TiO2/Adsorbent Nanocomposites Prepared via Wet Chemical Impregnation for Wastewater Treatment: A Review. Applied Catalysis A: General, 371, 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2009.09.038
[14]	Webb, P.A. and Orr, C. (1997) Analytical Methods in Fine Particle Technology. Micromeritics Instrument Corp, Norcross.
[15]	Tahir, D., Kwon, H.L., Shin, H.C., Oh, S.K., Kang, H.J., Heo, S., et al. (2010) Electronic and Optical Properties of Al2O3/SiO2 Thin Films Grown on Si Substrate. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 43, 255301-255400.
[16]	Halasz, I., Agarwal, M., Marcus, B. and Cormier, W.E. (2005) Molecular Spectra and Polarity Sieving of Aluminum Deficient Hydrophobic H-Y Zeolites. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 84, 318-331. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2005.05.040
[17]	Zou, L., Han, B., Yan, H., Kasperski, K.L., Xu, Y. and Hepler, L.G. (1997) Enthalpy of Adsorption and Isotherms for Adsorption of Naphthenic Acid onto Clays. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 190, 472-475. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jcis.1997.4898
[18]	Frank, R.A., Kavanagh, R., Burnison, B.K., Arsenault, G., Headley, J.V., Peru, K.M., Van Der Kraak, G. and Solomon, K.R. (2008) Toxicity Assessment of Collected Fractions from an Extracted Naphthenic Acid Mixture. Chemosphere, 72, 1309-1314. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.04.078