Solubilized chitosan biopolymers for sequestration of organic acids in aquatic environments after biodegradation in a constructed wetland treatment system

Abstract

Pristine chitosan was dissolved in two different respective aqueous acids, namely acetic acid (AcA) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). The respective acid solutions were used as media to associate with naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) from raw oil sands process water (R-OSPW) contaminants and constructed treatment wetland systems OSPW (CWTS-OSPW) samples. The results revealed selective removal of NAFCs and lyotropic effects due to variable counterion binding of chloride versus acetate with the ionized NAFCs (carboxylate species).