Sweep flocculation in froth treatment and demulsification

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This project explores improved methods of processing that would ultimately increase the recovery of oil (bitumen) by removing more of the salty water droplets earlier in the process. These improvements also aim to protect the multi-million dollar process vessels used to upgrade the bitumen into processable crude later in the process.****We are considering the mechanism of sweep flocculation, where the water droplets do not have to coalesce - they simply form a loosely connected agglomerate which captures clays and fine water drops as it settles through the diluted bitumen froth. You might think of this as a moving filter, settling through the diluted bitumen froth.****If this mechanism can be cleanly identified, it would give us a better understanding of the separation process and open the doors to continued process improvement, longer process plant life, and safer operations.****