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Elsner, M. ; Hoelzer, K.

Quantitative survey and structural classification of hydraulic fracturing chemicals reported in unconventional gas production.

Environ. Sci. Technol. 50, 3290-3314 (2016)
Verlagsversion Postprint DOI PMC
Open Access Gold (Paid Option)
Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
Much interest is directed at the chemical structure of hydraulic fracturing (HF) additives in unconventional gas exploitation. To bridge the gap between existing alphabetical disclosures by function / CAS number and emerging scientific contributions on fate and toxicity, we review the structural properties which motivate HF applications, and which determine environmental fate and toxicity. Our quantitative overview relied on voluntary U.S. disclosures evaluated from the FracFocus registry by different sources and on a House of Representatives ("Waxman") list. Out of over 1000 reported substances, classification by chemistry yielded succinct subsets able to illustrate the rationale of their use, and physicochemical properties relevant for environmental fate, toxicity and chemical analysis. While many substances were non-toxic, frequent disclosures also included notorious groundwater contaminants like petroleum hydrocarbons (solvents), precursors of endocrine disruptors like nonylphenols (non-emulsifiers), toxic propargyl alcohol (corrosion inhibitor), tetramethyl ammonium (clay stabilizer), biocides or strong oxidants. Application of highly oxidizing chemicals, together with occasional disclosures of putative delayed acids and complexing agents (i.e., compounds designed to react in the subsurface) suggests that relevant transformation products may be formed. To adequately investigate such reactions, available information is not sufficient, but instead a full disclosure of HF additives is necessary.
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Publikationstyp Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Korrespondenzautor
Schlagwörter Drinking-water Wells; Natural-gas; Organic-compounds; Marcellus Shale; Waste-water; Environmental Implications; Ethoxylated Surfactants; Propargyl Alcohol; United-states; Toxicity
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0013-936X
e-ISSN 1520-5851
Zeitschrift Environmental Science & Technology
Quellenangaben Band: 50, Heft: 7, Seiten: 3290-3314 Artikelnummer: , Supplement: ,
Verlag ACS
Verlagsort Washington, DC
Nichtpatentliteratur Publikationen
Begutachtungsstatus Peer reviewed
Institut(e) Institute of Groundwater Ecology (IGOE)