Abstract
In Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR), over 1.25 billion m3 of tailings waste from the bitumen extraction process are stored in tailings ponds. Fugitive emissions associated with residual hydrocarbons in tailings ponds pose an environmental concern and include greenhouse gases (GHGs), reduced sulphur compounds (RSCs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Froth treatment tailings (FTT) are a specific type of tailings waste stream from the bitumen froth treatment process that contains bioavailable diluent: either naphtha or paraffins. Tailings ponds that receive FTT are associated with the highest levels of biogenic gas production, as diverse microbial communities biodegrade the residual diluent. In this review, current literature regarding the composition, chemical analysis, and microbial degradation of FTT and its constituents is presented in order to provide a more complete understanding of the complex chemistry and biological processes related to fugitive emissions from tailings ponds receiving FTT. Characterizing the composition and biodegradation of FTT is important from an environmental perspective to better predict emissions from tailings ponds and guide tailings pond management decisions.
Highlights
Bitumen extraction from the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) plays an important role in meeting global and North American energy demands, the tailings produced during the extraction and treatment processes pose a variety of environmental concerns
Froth treatment tailings (FTT) are a specific type of tailings that contain bioavailable diluent, which is the primary source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions from FTT tailings ponds and has been associated with localized bubbling within some tailings ponds [4,5,6]
Characterizing the composition and biodegradation of FTT is important from an environmental perspective to better understand how to reduce GHG emissions and manage the risks associated with tailings [7,8]
Summary
Bitumen extraction from the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) plays an important role in meeting global and North American energy demands, the tailings produced during the extraction and treatment processes pose a variety of environmental concerns. Characterizing the composition and biodegradation of FTT is important from an environmental perspective to better understand how to reduce GHG emissions and manage the risks associated with tailings [7,8]. Recent findings regarding emissions from tailings ponds associated with diluent in FTT. This review presents current understandings pertaining to the complex chemistry and This review presents current understandings pertaining to the complex chemistry and microbiology of FTT and highlights areas where further research is needed in order to microbiology of FTT and highlights areas where further research is needed in order to address the complex challenge of quantifying and managing tailings pond emissions. Address the complex challenge of quantifying and managing tailings pond emissions
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