Characterization of Fine Solids in Bitumen Froth Before and After Hydrothermal Reactions

• Author / Creator

  Zhao, Jun

• In this study, the mineralogy, surface properties, and morphology of fine solids in bitumen froth before and after hydrothermal reactions were investigated. It was observed that clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite did not go through significant mineralogical changes after the reaction. However, the siderite and pyrite contained in the bitumen froth were found to convert to pyrrhotite after the reaction. This conversion could be advantageous during direct hydrothermal froth upgrading as it fixes sulfur. The fine solids in bitumen froth were found to possess diverse wettability but they turned uniformly more oil-wet. Consequently, the fine solids lost their emulsion stabilization function as they mostly stayed in the oil phase. The filterability of the fine solids in the bitumen froth was also significantly increased, possibly due to a change in wettability and particle size. Therefore, hydrothermal reactions of bitumen froth can destabilize water-in-oil emulsions and facilitate fine solids removal.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Hydrothermal reaction, bitumen, oil sands

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R37M20

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.