Fluorescence Spectroscopy Study for Quantitative Analysis of Oils in Oil Sands Process Water

This study explores the application of fluorescence spectroscopy for analyzing oils in oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). The research focused on four oil types: heavy oil, bunker C oil, bitumen, and a mixture of heavy oil and bunker C oil. These oils were emulsified, and their properties were analyzed using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEMs). An improved field-extraction method was used to extract the emulsified oils, followed by fluorescence analysis. The EEM analysis provided fluorescence emission spectra for each oil type, allowing quantitative analysis of oil concentrations based on these spectra. The results showed that for emission wavelengths between 250-500 nm, the optimal excitation wavelengths were 250 nm and 265 nm for heavy oil and bunker C oil, respectively. For bitumen and the mixture of heavy oil and bunker C oil with a ratio of 1:1, the excitation wavelengths of 250 nm, 265 nm, 275 nm, and 290 nm showed similar intensities. Notably, a strong spectrum was observed at 265 nm for bunker C oil. The study confirmed that excitation wavelengths of 250 nm and 265 nm were optimal for bitumen detection. The findings demonstrate that fluorescence spectroscopy is a practical, efficient tool for rapid quantification of oils, offering remarkable potential for field applications. This method provides a rapid and straightforward approach to monitoring and quantifying oil contamination in OSPW, highlighting its advantages over more complex traditional methods.