METHOD FOR USING PEROXIDE AND ALKALI TO RECOVER BITUMEN FROM TAR SANDS

摘要

Method and apparatus for treating tar sand grains (102) comprising mineral substrate particles (104) surrounded by a bitumen envelope (106), to recover a bitumen portion and a mineral substrate portion. The tar sand grains (102) are comminuted as needed and mixed with water containing an alkali, such as sodium hydroxide, to form a slurry. The slurry is condition for separation by heating to about 80 ° C and then intensively shearing the bitumen envelope (106) which creates shear fractures (110). The conditioned slurry is blended with a peroxide in aqueous solution which enters the shear fractures (110) in the bitumen envelope (106) and is decomposed therein, creating bubbles of free oxygen (112) within the tar sand grains (102) which disrupt the bitumen envelope (106) and releases bitumen globules (114).' The released bitumen globules (114) are separated from the mineral substrate particles (104) by flotation, accelerated by the oxygen bubbles (112). Alkali and/or peroxide may be added during the flotation process. Tailings from the process are suitable for landfill.