Probing bubble-bitumen-mineral interaction mechanisms in bitumen liberation and extraction from oil dands by quantitative force measurements

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Hydrotransport is a critical process step in surface mining and bitumen extraction of oil sands. During hydrotransport of surface mined oil sands, several in-pipe conditioning steps occur, including bitumen liberation from mineral solids, bitumen droplet coalescence, air entrainment and air bubble attachment onto bitumen and so on, which are crucial steps for bitumen recovery. Bitumen froth quality and bitumen recovery are largely influenced by these interactions, which are dictated by their interfacial properties and the complex composition of the processing media. Previous studies have mainly focused on model systems or jar tests, with limited quantitative fundamental understanding of these interactions under simulated process water conditions. A holistic fundamental and quantitative characterization of the above interactions, particularly under the influence of caustic and surfactants (naturally occurring or additives), is not present within the oil sands industry. The proposed project aims to quantify the interaction forces among bubbles, bitumen and mineral solids in process water conditions (e.g., influence of caustic, surfactants, ionic species), and correlate these interaction mechanisms to bitumen liberation and flotation performances in oil sands production. The quantitative characterization of these interaction forces in process water conditions is of both fundamental and practical importance in oil sands production. The successful completion of this research will provide useful characterization database to the oil sands industry to optimize the operation conditions in hydrotransport and bitumen extraction to enhance bitumen recovery. It is anticipated that a useful model for the correlation of bitumen-bubble-mineral solid interactions, process water chemistry, and liberation/flotation for bitumen extraction can be established based on the experimental results obtained, which can help the oil sands industry to predict related operability and better modulate the processing conditions for enhanced bitumen recovery.