SILICATES ADDITION IN BITUMEN FROTH TREATMENT

摘要

A method for processing a bitumen froth comprising bitumen, water and solids including fine solids for reducing the solids concentration in diluted bitumen is provided comprising diluting the bitumen froth with a hydrocarbon diluent to form a dilfroth; adding a sufficient amount of a silicate to the dilfroth to cause a substantial amount of fine solids to associate with the water instead of the diluted bitumen; and allowing the diluted bitumen to separate from the water containing the substantial amount of fine solids to produce a dilbit having less than 3 percent by weight solids.