Method for controlling flocculant addition to tar sand tailings
US4282103A · kind A · utility
Assignees
- Petro-Canada Exploration, Inc.
- 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
- Pan Canadian Petroleum Limited
- Esso Resources Canada Limited
- Canada-Cities Service, Ltd.
- Gulf Canada Resources Limited
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 1979 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G1/045
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The hot water extraction process for recovering bitumen from tar sand produces a large volume of solids-laden aqueous tailings as a waste product. The solids in the tailings stream may be flocculated by the addition of time and the components of the stream then separated into a water-free solids phase and a clarified water phase. During flocculation, the zeta potential of the stream is monitored. It rises from an initial negative zeta potential, as the lime is added. Flocculation is terminated when the zeta potential is about zero. At this point, the tailings are in optimum condition for separation into the water-free solids phase and the clarified water phase. Separation is preferably effected by vacuum filtration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.