Biochar-Enhanced Constructed Wetlands for Oil Sands Process Water Treatment

Alberta faces challenge of managing significant volumes of oil sands process water (OSPW), necessitating treatment prior to its release into the environment. Currently, OSPW is stored in tailings ponds, which comprises toxic organic fraction, e.g. naphthenic acids (NAs). Biochar, produced from pyrolysis of any biomass, can effectively remove contaminants from OSPW, offering a sustainable solution that supports resource recovery and circular economy. Our recent study has shown that high-surface-area biochar derived from a locally obtained ‘aspen wood’ can effectively treat large volumes of OSPW through adsorption and biodegradation. We propose to expand the application of this biochar by integrating them into a constructed wetlands (CWs). CWs are recognized as effective nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment; however, their efficacy is often limited by harsh climatic conditions and longer treatment period as in Alberta. Incorporating biochar into CWs presents a promising solution, enhancing the scalability and applicability of this technology to treat OSPW at scale to meet the zero-discharge policy. This approach will not only increase the wetland treatment efficiency but also reduce treatment time. This innovative approach will attract interest from key stakeholders including oil industry leaders.