EXTRACTION OF BITUMEN FROM BITUMEN FROTH GENERATED FROM TAR SANDS

摘要

A process for the extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth generated from tar sands is presented. The deaerated bitumen froth (12) produced by deaerator (11) is fed to primary mixer (13) where it is mixed with secondary settler overflow produced from the secondary settler (22), containing a large proportion of diluted bitumen and solvent, fed through suitable conduit (15). During mixing in primary mixer (13), the secondary settler overflow (15), containing diluted bitumen and solvent, solvates a portion of the bitumen contained in the bitumen froth and precipitates a portion of the contained asphaltenes.