RECOVERY OF HEAVY MINERALS FROM OIL SANDS TAILINGS

摘要

A process for recovering heavy minerals from oil sands tailings including water, solids and residual bitumen is provided. The process includes subjecting the oil sands tailings to flotation to produce a froth concentrate including heavy minerals and organic materials, and an aqueous stream including hydrophilic materials, wherein the oil sands tailings are contacted with an oxidizing agent reacting with at least part of the organic materials to generate gas bubbles that aid in the flotation. The process also includes separating the froth concentrate into a first fraction and a second fraction, wherein the separating includes contacting the froth concentrate with a solvent to produce the first fraction including insoluble organic materials and a portion of the heavy minerals and the second fraction including solubilized bitumen components.