Direct mass spectrometric analysis of naphthenic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in waters impacted by diluted bitumen and conventional crude oil

Crude oil spills have well-documented, deleterious impacts on the hydrosphere. In addition to macroscopic effects wildlife and waterscapes, several classes of petroleum derived compounds, such as naphthenic acids (NAs) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), may be released into water present aquatic contamination hazards. The concentrations these contaminants affected by both type chemistry. We characterize NAs PAHs in natural constructed waters, spanning a range pH salinity, directly compare influence diluted bitumen (DB) conventional crude (CC) oil, using condensed-phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry (CP-MIMS) direct sampling, on-line technique. concentration isomer class profiles classical aqueous phase were assessed electrospray ionization negative-ion mode [M-H]? whereas PAH monitored liquid electron (LEI) positive-ion [M+•]. NA (0.03–25 ppm) highly pH-dependent, an order magnitude greater samples contaminated with DB than CC. Conversely, naphthalene (10–130 ppb) alkyl-naphthalenes (10–90 three four-fold higher exposed demonstrate that naturally occurring dissolved organic matter does not bias results from sampling approach employed, CC waters can differentiated principal component analysis distribution waters. Finally, we describe first demonstration concurrent trace same sample controlling perm-selectivity at spectrometer. techniques employed here for compounds applied rapid screening real-time monitoring remediation processes.