FLOCCULANTS AND METHODS FOR RECOVERING BITUMEN FROM OIL SANDS

摘要

A flocculant, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, includes a core nanoparticle and at least one positively charged functional group on a surface of the core nanoparticle. The nanoparticle may comprise a silica, alumina, titania, iron oxide, iron nitride, iron carbide, or a carbon-based nanoparticle. The flocculant may be used, in a method of bitumen recovery, to neutralize and agglomerate bitumen droplets and/or mineral particles derived from oil sands ore. The bitumen droplets agglomerate about the core nanoparticle of the flocculant to form bitumen flocs, while the mineral particles agglomerate about the core nanoparticle of the flocculant to form mineral flocs. The buoyant bitumen flocs may then separate from the dense mineral flocs to enable high-yield recovery of bitumen from oil sands.

主权项

1. A flocculant for bitumen recovery, comprising:
a core nanoparticle selected from the group consisting of silica nanoparticles, alumina nanoparticles, titania nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles, iron nitride nanoparticles, iron carbide nanoparticles, and carbon-based nanoparticles; and at least one functional group on a surface of the core nanoparticle, the at least one functional group being positively charged.