RECOVERY, CHARACTERIZATION AND CONCEPTUAL MODELING OF NON-BITUMINOUS ORGANIC MATERIALS FROM OIL SANDS

The hot water process has recovered approximately 90% of the bitumen i n oil sands, but the remaining 10% of bitumen and naphtha has been los t to the tailings pond. Recovery of bitumen and non-bituminous combust ibles (NBC) from centrifuge, scroll and final tailings has been consid ered. The effects of four sequestering agents, and of chemical additiv es such as CaCl2 and FeCl3 on the flotation behavior of bitumen, NBC a nd minerals in these tailings have been investigated. A simple method of isolating NBC materials has been developed. The flotation of both b itumen and NBC was enhanced by phosphate treatment and depressed by ED TA. NBC was characterized by its physical properties, energy content, functionality and chemical analysis. A conceptual model explains the i nteractions between the bitumen, minerals and NBC fractions present in tailings slurries.