Characterising rag‐forming solids. (15th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kupai, Morvarid Madjlessi; Yang, Fan; Harbottle, David; Moran, Kevin; Masliyah, Jacob; Xu, Zhenghe
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of chemical engineering. Volume 91:Number 8(2013)
• Page Start: 1395
• Page End: 1401
• Publication Date: 2013-05-15
• Subjects: Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1002/cjce.21842
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-4034

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="cjce21842-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>In oil sands froth treatment, an undesirable intermediate layer, often accumulates during the separation of water–oil emulsions. The layer referred to as rag layer is a complex mixture of water, oil, solids and interfacially active components. The presence of a rag layer has a detrimental impact on the separation of water and fine solids from diluted bitumen. The current study focuses on characterisation of solids from a rag layer forming stream of a naphthenic froth treatment plant in an attempt to understand the mechanism of rag layer formation. Through detailed characterisation of rag‐forming and non‐rag‐forming solids, the mineralogy of solids and their contamination were shown to be critical to rag layer formation. The iron‐based minerals such as siderite and pyrite were found to be enriched within the rag layer. Analysis of surface organic complexes confirms a high level of organic matter associated with these solids through the binding of carboxylic acid group with iron on solids, resulting in a surface hydrophobicity susceptible for rag layer formation.</p> </sec> </abstract>