SEPARATION AND RECOVERY OF BITUMEN OIL FROM TAR SANDS

摘要

A process for the separation of bitumen oil from tar sands and the like. Slurry is supplied to a mixing chamber of a jet pump at an input end of the process. Non-ionic surfactant, and optionally diluent, are added to the slurry. The slurry is agitated within t he jet pump to effect a partial to full phase separation of the oil fraction from the solids fractio n of the slurry. The partially to fully separated slurry is discharged into a pipeline and later into a hydrocyclone to effect a second phase separation of the slurry. One or more hydrocyclone separators may be used to separate the bitumen oil and liquid from the solids fraction.