Elemental and spectroscopic characterization of fractions of an acidic extract of oil sands process water

The more minor ether eluate contained further aromatics and 1.5% sulfur. FTIR spectra indicated free carboxylic acids, in addition to esters. Four major sulfur compounds were detected by GCxGC-SCD. GCxGC-high resolution MS indicated these were methyl esters of C18 S-containing, diaromatics with ⩾C3 carboxylic acid side chains.