Extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth and biotreatment of bitumen froth tailings generated from tar sands

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5968349
SERIAL NO

09192892

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Abstract

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A process for the extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth generated from tar sands is disclosed. In this process, bitumen froth is extracted from tar sands using a water process without requiring the use of caustic soda. The froth is treated in a counter-current decantation circuit with a paraffinic solvent to remove precipitated asphaltenes, water, and solids from the bitumen froth. A dilute bitumen product is produced having final water and solids contents of about 0.01 to about 1% by weight. This renders the dilute bitumen product amenable to direct hydrocracking. The process provides an alternative route to the conventional process of utilizing centrifuges to separate bitumen from precipitated asphaltenes, water, and solids and thus avoids the high capital and operating costs associated with the conventional bitumen froth treatment by centrifugation. The invention utilizes bitumen froth produced from a water process in which the use of caustic soda is not required. The process advantageously avoids the production of tailings sludges caused by clay dispersions. The present invention also teaches a novel process for the biotreatment of bitumen froth tailings resulting in a reduced amount of waste products and waste byproducts.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
BHP MINERALS INTERNATIONAL204 EDISON WAY RENO NV 89502

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Budden, Julia Rose Reno, NV 2 495
Duyvesteyn, Willem P C Reno, NV 62 1088
Picavet, Merijn Amilcare Delft, NL 2 448

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