Tar Sands Energy Ltd.

Eneresource, Inc.

Jih-Fen Kuo

Teh Fu Yen

Mohammad-Ali Sadeghi

Long-Kuan Jang

Kazem Sadeghi

Hydrocarbon liquids are recovered from carbonaceous materials such as tar sands utilizing a separation reagent formed in situ by reacting polar resin components of tar sands with an inorganic base such as sodium silicate in sonicated aqueous solution in absence of an organic solvent to form a surfactant. Under the influence of sonication a microemulsion of polar-external micelles forms. The polar groups can associate with anions, especially polyanions such as silicate and act in a membrane mimetic manner to form vesicles. Cavities can form in the surfactant resin molecule that complex with guest cations such as titanium or other metals from the tar sand. When tar sands are added to the sonicated separation reagent, the surfactant penetrates the bitumen. Metal ions complex with the polar groups and aid in removing the bitument from the sand particles. The polarorganic asphaltene materials are carried into the aqueous phase by the anion and stabilized within the micelle structure. The lighter, non-polar hydrocarbon oil fraction separate from the emulsion and rise to the top and are recovered by skimming. The heavier asphaltenes and preasphaltenes complex with the polyvalent metals to form charcoal-like agglomerates which settle to the bottom of the treatment tank. The separation reagent forms during the reaction and can reach a concentration capable of dissolving bitumen. The separation reagent can be recovered and used in other processes after removal and recovery of the clay. The separation reagent must be substantially diluted after being recycled and reused to reduce solvation properties.

Treatment of carbonaceous materials

Hydrocarbon liquids are recovered from carbonaceous materials such as tar sands utilizing a separation reagent formed in situ by reacting polar resin components of tar sands with an inorganic base such as sodium silicate in sonicated aqueous solution in absence of an organic solvent to form a surfactant. When tar sands are added to the sonicated separation reagent, the surfactant penetrates the bitumen which aids in removing the bitumen from the sand particles. The lighter, non-polar hydrocarbon oil fraction separate from the emulsion and rise to the top and are recovered by skimming. The heavier asphaltenes and preasphaltenes complex with the polyvalent metals to form charcoal-like agglomerates which settle to the bottom of the treatment tank. The separation reagent forms during the reaction and can reach a concentration capable of dissolving bitumen. The separation reagent can be recovered and used in other processes after removal and recovery of the clay. The separation reagent must be substantially diluted after being recycled and reused to reduce solvation properties.

Sonication method and reagent for treatment of carbonaceous materials

Hydrocarbon liquids are recovered from carbonaceous materials such as tar sands utilizing a separation reagent formed in situ by reacting polar resin components of tar sands with an inorganic base such as sodium silicate in sonicated aqueous solution in absence of an organic solvent to form a surfactant. Under the influence of sonication a microemulsion of polar-external micelles forms. When tar sands are added to the sonicated separation reagent, the surfactant penetrates the bitumen. Metal ions complex with the polar groups and aid in removing the bitumen from the sand particles. The polar-organic asphaltene materials are carried into the aqueous phase by the anion and stabilized within the micelle structure. The lighter, non-polar hydrocarbon oil fraction separate from the emulsion and rise to the top and is recovered by skimming. The heavier asphaltenes and preasphaltenes complex with the polyvalent metals to form charcoal-like agglomerates which settle to the bottom of the treatment tank. The rate of separation of bitumen can be significantly increased by adding a small amount of a free radical initiator such as benzoyl peroxide to the separation reagent.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Jih-Fen Kuo