Upgrading of solvent extracted athabasca bitumen by membrane ultrafiltration

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · A.I.Ch.E. Journal (American Institute of Chemical Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690360821· OSTI ID:5568203

Sparks, B D; Hazlett, J D; Kutowy, O; Tweddle, T A ^[1]

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1. National Research Council of Canada, Montreal Road Campus, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R9 (CA)

This paper reports on solvent extraction processes that have been tested extensively for the separation of bitumen from surface-mineable, oil-bearing deposits. The end result of these processes is a solution of bitumen in a hydrocarbon solvent, usually a light naphtha. The bitumen solution contains only minimal amounts of solids and water; but, because of the constraints of the solid- liquid separation and washing steps, the bitumen concentration in the produced solutions can be quite low. Solvent must be separated from these solutions for recycle back to the extraction step of the process. This is usually accomplished by conventional techniques such as distillation, multiple-effect evaporation, or steam stripping. Sometimes a combination of these techniques is required. As a result of the low bitumen content of the solutions, the energy and capital costs associated with solvent recycle can be substantial. The use of membranes for nonaqueous liquid separations is a recent application of this developing technology. Several patents can be found describing processes for the recovery of solvent used in lube oil dewaxing or the regeneration of used automotive oils. A Japanese company has reported the development of several solvent-stable ultrafiltration membranes for the removal of solids from a number of solvents. The use of spiral-wound polysulfone membranes for the recovery of pentane solvent used in heavy oil deasphalting has been described by an American firm.

• OSTI ID: 5568203
• Journal Information: A.I.Ch.E. Journal (American Institute of Chemical Engineers); (United States), Vol. 36:8; ISSN 0001-1541
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
BITUMENS
REFINING
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
BY-PRODUCTS
PURIFICATION
NAPHTHA
RECYCLING
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
ATHABASCA DEPOSIT
COST
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUIDS
MEMBRANES
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION CONTROL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLIDS
ULTRAFILTRATION
VISCOSITY
COAL TAR OILS
CONTROL
DISTILLATES
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION
FILTRATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PROCESSING
TAR
040403* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Refining
040404 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Purification
400105 - Separation Procedures
040500 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Properties & Composition