METHOD FOR REDUCING MINERAL CONTENT OF SLUDGE

摘要

A process for treating retention pond sludge containing greater than 20% solids including minerals and bitumen and associated with the aqueous extraction of bitumen from tar sands to provide water substantially reduced in solids content which comprises agitating the sludge with water to provide a diluted sludge with a solids concentration in the range of 6 to 18% by weight, and thereafter settling the sludge to form a lower layer having a solids content substantially higher than that of the sludge and an upper layer having a lower solids content than sludge and thereafter recovering said upper layer.