Patent · US Expired

Method for treating oil sands extraction plant tailings

US4437998A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
7References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 1982
Grant dateMar 20, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S210/901
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Tailings from an oil sands hot water process extraction plant are mixed with hydrolyzed starch flocculant and transferred to a settling pond. After a residence period on the order of one year, sludge from the lower region of the settling pond is withdrawn, mixed with a hydrolyzed starch dewatering agent and transferred to a collecting pond. After a residence period on the order of one week, partially dewatered sludge is withdrawn, mixed with sand, and deposited in a terminal disposal area, the sand in the mixture there effecting an internal surcharge to obtain further dewatering. The hydrolyzed starch additives are obtained by the aqueous hydrolysis of a starch in the presence of one or more metal salts.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.