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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Tar sand separation process using solvent, hot water and correlated conditions

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5141326
A method is described for the processing of bituminous tar sands. The process consists of first forming a mixture of the sands and a solvent. The solvent has a boiling range above the boiling point of water under the same conditions. The sands and solvent are then mixed with superheated water at correlated conditions of temperature and pressure, such that substantially no vaporization of water occurs. The tar sands, solvent and superheated water are then discharged into a separation zone operated under correlated conditions of temperature and pressure, such that at least a portion of the water in the mixture is vaporized into bitumen froth forming steam to form an upper bitumen froth layer, a middlings layer comprising water, clay and bitumen and a sand tailings layer. This process allows the recovery of a higher amount of bitumen froth over that recovered in a conventiona hot water process. (8 claims)
Assignee:
Sun Oil Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3509037
OSTI ID:
5141326
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English