Two new inorganic-organic hybrid polymers, AI(OH)_3-polyacrylamide (Al(OH)_3-PAM) and Mg(OH)_2-polyacrylamide (Mg(OH)_2-PAM) were synthesized and successfully applied for the treatment of oil sand tailings. The results indicate that both Mg(OH)_2-PAM and Al(OH)_3,-PAM were unaffected by the change in pH, and could be applied to oil sand tailings with varying sand-to-fine ratio (SFR). The optimum dosages for the Mg(OH)_2-PAM and AI(OH)_3-PAM were about 330 g/ ton and 650 g/ton, respectively for SFR 3.75. The flocculated oil sand inilings dewater quickly producing 66-68% solids. The flocculated tailings produced similar filtration rate before and after shear. Mg(OH)_2-PAM treated oil sand tailings produced twice the filtration rates (220 ml /min) compared with AI(OH)_3-PAM. This study clearly indicates that Mg(OH)_2-PAM and AI(OH)_3-PAM is a viable solution while decreasing the mass-production of tailings and increasing the rate of water-recycle.
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