Factors affecting the aeration of small bitumen droplets

Small bitumen droplets, roughly 10 to 40 mu m in diameter, constitute a sig nificant fraction of the total hydrocarbon in an oil sands flotation proces s. In this study, the aeration of such droplets is examined-both from a sur face energetic perspective as well as from direct observations. The spreadi ng coefficient associated with bitumen aeration is evaluated based on in si tu measurements of interfacial and surface tensions. In addition, micropipe tte techniques are employed to monitor the aeration process and to quantify the probability of aeration. Our results suggest that a positive spreading coefficient does not always guarantee the aeration of bitumen droplets, an d that such a process may best be described from a statistical stand point.