Method of removing bitumen from tar sand for subsequent recovery of the bitumen

Patent · Tue Oct 18 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:5254988

Hart, Jr, L I; Schmidt-Collerus, J J; Burroughs, L R

A method is given of removing bitumen from tar sand for subsequent recovery of the bitumen. The method comprises submerging tar sand in a sufficient amount of a circulating solvent in which the bitumen is soluble, and, while the tar sand is so submerged, sonicating within the solvent with a sufficient amount of sonic energy to break apart any connections between sand granules and to remove bitumen from the sand granules to thereby permit the bitumen so removed to go into solution in the solvent for subsequent removal of the solvent-plus-bitumen and recovery of the bitumen therefrom. 5 claims, no drawings.

• Assignee: Western Oil Sands, Ltd.
• Patent Number(s): US 4054505
• OSTI ID: 5254988
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
OIL SANDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SOLVENTS
SOUND WAVES
TAR