Kemira Oyj

University of Helsinki

Alistair King

Lasse Kyllönen

Evangelos Sklavounos

Sukhjit Aujla

Frances Fournier

Thomas Fenderson

Antti Rantamäki

Susanne Wiedmer

Suvi-Katriina Ruokonen

Tiina Laaksonen

Mehrdad Hesampour

Samantha Kiljunen

Ilkka Kilpeläinen

Jorma Matikainen

Pirkko Karhunen

Lasse Kyllonen

Tom Fenderson

The invention relates to method and composition for treating tailings from a separation process, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. Tailings comprise an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material and residual bitumen and have a dry solids content <25 weight-%. The method comprises addition of a flocculating agent comprising polyacrylamide to the tailings, as well as addition of an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid to tailings in conjunction with the flocculating agent. Flocs, which comprise solid particulate material, are formed and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The composition comprises a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid.

Method and composition for treating tailings

Hydrotropic composition comprising at least one surface active cationic component, which is selected from a group of cholinium, guadinium or tetramethylguadinium, preferably cholinium, and a straight or branched carboxylate anion having at least six carbon atoms; and its uses, for treating of oil sands or the like, for treating tailings from separation of bitumen, asphaltenes or the like.

Hydrotropic composition and its uses

A method and a composition for treating tailings from a separation process are disclosed, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. Tailings include an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material and residual bitumen and have a dry solids content &#x3c;25 weight-%. The method includes addition of a flocculating agent including polyacrylamide to the tailings, as well as addition of an auxiliary agent including ionic liquid to tailings in conjunction with the flocculating agent. Flocs, which include solid particulate material, are formed and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The composition in a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid.

A hydrotropic composition including at least one surface active cationic component, which is selected from a group of cholinium, guadinium or tetramethylguadinium, preferably cholinium, and a straight or branched carboxylate anion having at least six carbon atoms and its uses, for treating of oil sands or the like, for treating tailings from separation of bitumen, asphaltenes or the like.

The invention relates to a surfactant composition comprising an ionic liquid prepared from an unsubsituted or substituted primary, secondary or tertiary amine, or from an unsubstituted or substituted pyridine, amidine or guanidine with at least one fatty acid and/or resin acid. The invention also relates to a method for treating bitumen froth from a separation process, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. The method comprises addition of said surfactant composition to the diluent and/or to the froth before phase separation.

Surfactant composition and method for treating bitumen froth

The invention relates to a use of a reversible molten salt for separating hydrocarbons, such as crude bitumen and/or heavy crude oil, from material comprising mineral solids. The invention relates also to a method comprising at least the steps of: (a) bringing a liquid phase comprising a reversible molten salt, preferably a reversible ionic liquid, in a contact with mineral solids comprising hydrocarbons and extracting hydrocarbons to the liquid phase from the mineral solids; (b) separating the mineral solids phase from the liquid phase, which comprises molten salt and hydrocarbons; (c) separating hydrocarbons from the liquid phase comprising molten salt; and (d) recycling the liquid phase comprising molten salt to step (a).

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Helsinki, Finland

Alistair King