MINERAL MATTER AND CLAY-ORGANIC COMPLEXES IN OIL SANDS EXTRACTION PROCESSES |
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| Authors: | R J Mikula DE Axelson D Sheeran |
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| Affiliation: | 1. CANMET, Energy, Mines &2. Resources Canada, Western Research Centre , Fuel Processing Laboratory , P.O. Bag 1280, Devon, Alberta, TOC 1E0, Canada;3. Petroleum Recovery Institute , Calgary, Alberta, Canada|T2L 2A6 |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Differences in oil sands processability and extraction yields can be dependent upon many factors including the composition of the mineral components and the organic complexes that are associated with certain minerals. These mineral-organic associations help provide the bridge which leads to carry over of bitumen with the tailings as well as carry over of water and mineral matter with the bitumen product. The nature of the organic component of clay-organic complexes extracted from various streams in an oil sands recovery process is discussed in relation to the stability of both water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions formed. The samples were obtained from Suncor's oil sands extraction plant located in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Samples were obtained from throughout the extraction process from the primary froth through to the final diluted bitumen product. These samples have been studied with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as with other techniques such as interfacial tension measurements. The data indicates that high water content products originate, to a great extent, from the presence of a very hydrophilic organic matrix attached to the surface of the clay and heavy metal minerals. |
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