摘要 |
Tailings from an oil sands hot water process extraction plant are mixed with hydrolyzed starch flocculant and transferred to a settling pond. After a residence period on the order of one year, sludge from the lower region of the settling pond is withdrawn, mixed with a hydrolyzed starch dewatering agent and transferred to a collecting pond. After a residence period on the order of one week, partially dewatered sludge is withdrawn, mixed with sand, and deposited in a terminal disposal area, the sand in the mixture there effecting an internal surcharge to obtain further dewatering. The hydrolyzed starch additives are obtained by the aqueous hydrolysis of a starch in the presence of one or more metal salts.
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