Methods of recovering bitumen from oil sands
US9840669B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 2014 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/2982
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A flocculant, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, includes a core nanoparticle and at least one positively charged functional group on a surface of the core nanoparticle. The nanoparticle may comprise a silica, alumina, titania, iron oxide, iron nitride, iron carbide, or a carbon-based nanoparticle. The flocculant may be used, in a method of bitumen recovery, to neutralize and agglomerate bitumen droplets and/or mineral particles derived from oil sands ore. The bitumen droplets agglomerate about the core nanoparticle of the flocculant to form bitumen flocs, while the mineral particles agglomerate about the core nanoparticle of the flocculant to form mineral flocs. The buoyant bitumen flocs may then separate from the dense mineral flocs to enable high-yield recovery of bitumen from oil sands.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.