Kemira Oyj

Thomas Fenderson

Sukhjit Aujla

Igal Maasen

Frances Fournier

Lasse Kyllönen

Miguel Pelaez

Evangelos Sklavounos

Alistair King

Amir Mahmoudkhani

Yuping Luo

Duane C Wilson

Amir H Mahmoudkhani

Mohan Nair

Philip Watson

Krystle Stewart

Phillip Watson

Subhayan Guha Thakurta

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

The present embodiments generally relate to the use of one or more polymers, e.g., one or more dry acid polymers and/or one or more dry acid polymers with salt, as flocculants, generally for treating tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, in need of solid-liquid separation, e.g., in order to efficiently recycle water and/or to reduce the volume of tailings which may be transferred to a tailings pond and/or a dedicated disposal area.

Compositions of dry acid polymers and uses thereof

The present embodiments generally relate to methods for the treatment of tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, including methods comprising the use of one or more flocculants, one or more coagulants and one or more oxidants to treat said tailings and/or to improve the performance of said one or more flocculants.

Methods of treating tailings

A method for treating tailings substrate from mining or oil sands separation process, the tailings substrate comprising an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material. In the method, a flocculating agent is added to the tailings substrate, flocs are allowed to form and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The flocculating agent comprises a degraded polyacrylamide comprising at least anionic units and having a process water viscosity reduced by 25-99%, preferably 50-99%, compared to a substantially similar polyacrylamide that has not been degraded by a degradation agent, measured at a shear rate 1 sas a 0.4-0.8 weight-% solution of polymer in process water.

Method and treatment system for treating mineral or oil sands tailings

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.

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.

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Decatur, GA, United States of America

Thomas Fenderson