Method for concentrating heavy minerals in the solids tailings from hot water extraction of tar sands
US4150093A · kind A · utility
Assignees
- Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Canada
- Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Province of Alberta, Government of the Province of Alberta, Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Alberta Syncrude Equity
- Ontario Energy Corp.
- Imperial Oil Limited
- Canada-Cities Service, Ltd.
- Gulf Oil Canada Ltd.
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1978 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC22B34/14
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An oily mass of solids tailings is derived from flotation of bitumen during hot water extraction of bituminous sands, and subsequent separation of most of the bitumen from associated solids. This oily mass contains a high concentration of heavy minerals, in the order of 10% by weight titanium and 4% zirconium. The tailings are introduced into a hot reaction zone and contacted with oxygen while agitating the solids. The bitumen associated with the solids is burned, as is residual coke left from the combustion of the bitumen. The product particles are discrete, dry and clean. They can be slurried with water and passed through gravity concentrating means, such as a spiral, to produce a concentrate containing in the order of 18% titanium and 8% zirconium.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.