Enhanced bitumen recovery, separation and water clarification process
US10544370B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC08L95/005
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A water extraction process for separating bitumen from tar sands comprises slurrying tar sands in water, mixing the aqueous slurry with a magnetic substance for a time sufficient to release bitumen from tar sands and to uniformly disperse the magnetic substance with the bitumen, and subjecting the resulting slurry to froth flotation for recovery of a bitumen product and production of sand tails. The magnetic substance may comprise a magnetic surfactant. Alternatively, the magnetic substance comprises a magnetic nanoparticle together with a frother having the characteristics of methyl-isobutyl-carbinol and can be mixed with the aqueous slurry by attrition scrubbing or by flotation cell mixing. The magnetic substance may be recovered for further reuse by applying a magnetic or electromagnetic field to the tailings. The process may suitably applied in both so-called hot water extraction processes as well in an “ambient” temperature (from about freezing to 35° C.) process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.