Removing Fine Solids from Bitumen through Water-assisted Flocculation using Biomolecules Extracted from Guar Beans

• Author / Creator

  Santander, Camila

• Non-aqueous extraction (NAE) of bitumen came to be due to the necessity for an alternative method to water-based extraction. However, NAE has its own challenges. One of the challenges is the elimination of suspended fine solids from solvent-diluted bitumen. This research focuses on the effect of natural settling additives in the sedimentation of the fine solids and how the alteration of the aromatic character of the solvent affects the performance of such additives. In order to find out if the additives could aid in settling we destabilize bitumen-coated silica particles in toluene with the addition of water and biomolecules extracted from Cyamopsiste tragonolobuosr L. Taup., i.e., high and low molecular weight guar gum (HGG and LGG), respectively. Lastly, water and water diluted HGG were added to an array of non-treated bitumen-solvent (toluene, cyclohexane and their mixtures) slurries, to interact with fine solids and promote settling. With sedimentation tests and focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) analysis, we demonstrate that these biomolecules can facilitate the settling of the solid particles in toluene although the underlying mechanisms differ between these two biomolecule cases. FBRM was also used in testing the effects of aromaticity. When toluene-cyclohexane mixtures are introduced, the overall solid content is reduced, measured with standardized protocols such us ashing and hot filtration. To complement the results found in the aromatic related tests, the effect of temperature and solvent to bitumen ratio where studied. Due to high viscosity of bitumen diluted slurry, the increase in temperature is suggested to further improve the dispersion of HGG and, therefore, increase settling rates This study attempts provide alternative solutions to fine solids removal without using synthetic additives or affecting bitumen extraction and recovery from NAE process.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • floccultation
  • Guar gum
  • Indigenous bitumen
  • fine solids

• Graduation date

  Fall 2020

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-qmz6-zm64

• License

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