Micro/Nanobubbles for Enhanced Bitumen Recovery

该研究项目的目的是通过与加拿大帝国石油公司的强大合作伙伴关系，为油砂行业开发微/纳米气泡(MNB)技术。这项新的MNB技术是基于微气泡对沥青分离过程的显著影响。在沥青、固体和水的泥浆中，大量这种微小的气泡可以很容易地附着在沥青表面，将沥青附着在毫米大小的浮选气泡上。浮选气泡捕获的沥青可以被带到泥浆的顶部进行分离。MNB增强型附着物可用于从油砂矿石中提取沥青以及从工业废水中回收沥青残留物。在本项目中，将利用实验室规模的管道回路、提取装置和浮选柱对MNB强化沥青回收进行研究和优化。预计该项目的结果将为下一步的试点和大规模现场试验提供第一手信息。此外，还将探索一套最先进的显微和快速成像技术，以揭示在存在MNBs的情况下，控制增强沥青回收的物理化学和动态过程的原理。该项目将开发的MNB技术可能会为加拿大带来切实的经济利益，并减少对宝贵自然资源进行负责任和可持续的勘探对环境的影响。公司的工程科学家和大学的研究团队之间的密切合作将确保经过验证的概念将朝着商业化的方向发展到下一个水平。该项目将为高素质人员创造极好的发展技术技能和专业技能的机会。

The aim of this research project is to develop a micro/nanobubble (MNB) technology for oilsands industry through strong partnership with Imperial Oil Canada. This novel MNB technology is based on remarkable effects of tiny bubbles on the processes in bitumen separation. A large quantity of these tiny bubbles in the slurry of bitumen, solids and water can readily adhere on the surface of bitumen, bridging the attachment of bitumen onto millimeter-sized flotation bubbles. The bitumen captured by the flotation bubbles can be carried up to the top of the slurry for separation. The MNB-enhanced attachment can be applied in bitumen extraction from oilsands ores as well as in recovery of bitumen residues from industrial wastewater. In this project, MNB-enhanced bitumen recovery will be investigated and optimized by using the lab-scale pipeline loop, extraction unit and flotation column. The results from this project are anticipated to provide first-hand information for the next step of piloting scale and large-scale field tests. Furthermore, a suite of state-of-the-art microscopical and fast imaging techniques will be explored to unravel the principles that govern the physicochemical and dynamic processes in enhanced bitumen recovery in presence of MNBs. The MNB technology to be developed in this project may potentially bring tangible economy benefits for Canada, and reduce environmental impact from responsible and sustainable exploration of valuable natural resources. The close collaboration among the engineering scientists in the company and the research team in the University will ensure that the proven concepts will be taken to the next level towards commercialization. The project will create excellent opportunities for highly qualified personnel to develop technical skills as well as professional skills.