Rheology in oil sands processing

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The production of bitumen from the Athabascan oil sands involves a number of unit operations requiring the preparation and handling of oil sand-water slurries. The proposed research program is aimed at characterization of the flow properties (rheology) of oil sand ore suspensions as a function of solids content, water chemistry, and ore composition (primarily mineralogy and bitumen content). The program will also investigate correlations between the rheology of oil sand ore slurries and the extractability of bitumen from the ores. The proposed research will also identify the most critical physicochemical parameters that affect the rheological (flow) behavior of oil sand ores. The results of the proposed program will demonstrate how the rheology of oil sand suspensions can be controlled in order to improve the efficiency of various sub-processes, such the hydrotransport, primary froth separation, and flotation.