Polymer flotation and activated carbon adsorption treatment for in situ tar sand process water

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Prof.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670050308· OSTI ID:7039698

McTernan, W F; Blanton, W E; Boardman, G D; Nolan, B T; Kocornik, D J

Process waters collected during a Department of Energy's in situ tar sand extraction experiment near Vernal, Utah were treated by polymer assisted induced air flotation and activated carbon adsorption. The flotation process removed over 99 percent of the organic load as emulsified bitumen but did little to reduce residual toxicity in the effluents. Activated carbon adsorption was needed to remove the toxic materials from the waste stream. GC/MS analysis, using a modification of the EPA Method 625, yielded an estimated 2000 compounds in the untreated process water. Internal and recovery standards present at 10 ppm were totally obscured in the chromatogram. Flotation effluents contained 39 identified organic compounds; none of which was listed on EPA's hazardous chemicals list. Internal and recovery standards were immediately visible in the chromatogram. The GC/MS analysis was unable to determine the chemical basis for the toxic properties present.

• Research Organization: School of Civil Engineering, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078
• OSTI ID: 7039698
• Journal Information: Environ. Prof.; (United States), Vol. 5:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORPTION
OIL SAND MINING
WATER TREATMENT
OIL SANDS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
POLYMERS
FLOTATION
UTAH
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
BITUMENS
EMULSIONS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
STANDARDS
TOXICITY
US DOE
US EPA
WASTE WATER
ADSORBENTS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBON
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MATERIALS
MINING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY
TAR
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WASTES
WATER
040900* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Waste management
040401 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties