DESORPTION OF BITUMEN FROM CLAY PARTICLES AND MATURE FINE TAILINGS

摘要

A method for desorption of bitumen from clay particles is disclosed. Alsodisclosed is amethod for the desorption of asphaltenes from clay particles and a method forthe desorption ofbituminous fractions from mature fine tails (MFT). The solid parts of oilsands contain mineralssuch as kaolinite. Bitumen is capable of adhering to the siloxane and aluminolsurfaces of kaolinite.The method for desorption of bitumen from clay particles involves interacting,in a suitable organicsolvent, a clay-bitumen composite with a compound capable of stabilizing thebitumen in theorganic solvent and adsorbing to clay particles such that the compoundreplaces the bitumen in theclay-bitumen composite. A substantial amount of the compound that is capableof stabilizing thebitumen in the organic solvent is then recovered with the clay particles,while the bitumen isreleased. Similarly, the method for desorption of asphaltenes from clayparticles also involvesinteracting a clay-asphaltene composite with a compound capable of stabilizingthe asphaltenes inan organic solvent, recovering the compound with the clay particles, andreleasing the asphaltenesinto solution.