DISTRIBUTION AND TYPES OF SOLIDS ASSOCIATED WITH BITUMEN

In the conventional Hot Water Extraction Process bitumen is separated as a froth that is then diluted with naphtha and subjected to two stag es of centrifugation. The resulting bitumen solution still contains re sidual water, dissolved salts and mineral solids. Before upgrading the solvent and other volatile components are removed by topping at 524 d egrees C. The salts and mineral solids remain with topped bitumen; the ir presence can lead to serious operational problems in the bitumen up grading process. In the present work the solids associated with bitume n (BS) have been identified as mainly ultra-fine (nano sized) aluminos ilicate clays coated with strongly bound toluene insoluble organic mat erial having ''asphaltene characteristics''. It is proposed that these ultra-fine clays with their strong tendency to collect at oil-water i nterfaces, are the key component responsible for the presence of intra ctable water and associated salts in bitumen froth.