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Parameters and mechanisms in the solvent extraction of mined athabasca oil sand
Author(s) -
Cormack Donald E.,
Kenchington John M.,
Phillips Colin R.,
Leblanc Patrick J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450550515
Subject(s) - asphalt , oil sands , dissolution , toluene , solvent , extraction (chemistry) , kerosene , mass transfer , benzene , diffusion , chemistry , materials science , chromatography , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , composite material , engineering , physics
The efficiency of solvent extraction of bitumen from mined Athabasca oil sands has been studied in laboratory‐scale, batch, stirred vessels. Solvent type, solids concentration, stirrer speed and contact time have been identified as important parameters. A theoretical analysis of the extraction process provides a basis by which the various parameters are assessed in terms of relative overall mass transfer coefficients. However, because the size distribution of the oil sand aggregates is difficult to reproduce, the analysis is limited. Greater reproducibility, and similar quantitative results were obtained for the dissolution of pure bitumen from the bottom of the stirred vessels. It is shown that highly aromatic solvents such as benzene and toluene can dissolve bitumen 3–5 times faster than an essentially alpha tic solvent such as kerosene. There is evidence, however, which indicates that solvent properties other than aromaticity are also important. The data indicate that a minimum stirrer speed must be exceeded before the extraction of oil sand or pure bitumen will proceed at a reasonable rate. Above this minimum rate, the mass transfer coefficient increases linearly with stirrer speed. The solids concentration is also important since the data suggest that a higher efficiency is obtained at higher solids concentrations in the range of solid loadings studied.