US2015083645A1PendingUtilityA1

Composition for Recovering Bitumen from Oil Sands

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Assignee: ECOCOMPOUNDS INCPriority: Sep 26, 2013Filed: Sep 26, 2013Published: Mar 26, 2015
Est. expirySep 26, 2033(~7.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David Aaron CalvertFranz R. Fernandez
C10G 1/042C10G 1/047C10G 1/04
35
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Claims

Abstract

An improved composition for recovering bitumen from oil sands is used in the traditional “hot water” extraction process. An aliquot of a solvent mixture is mixed with bitumen ore and water. A pH builder is added and following mixing primary and secondary froths are recovered. The solvent mixture contains a monoterpene, nonionic surfactant, a short chain alcohol and a short chain ketone. Primary and secondary froth recovery is at least 80% at temperatures of about 35° C. Only very small amounts of solvent are used, and all solvents are biodegradable.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A two part composition for extracting bitumen from bituminous sand ore by sequentially mixing a first part and then a second part with the ore, the composition comprising:
 an organic solvent mixture as the first part, the organic solvent mixture comprising:
 7 to 27 percent by volume of a monoterpene; 
 15 to 45 percent by volume of a nonionic surfactant; 
 25 to 45 percent by volume of a short chain alcohol; and 
 5 to 15 percent by volume of a short chain ketone; and 
   an aqueous pH builder selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate, an aqueous solution of potassium carbonate, an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, an aqueous solution of sodium silicate and an aqueous solution of potassium silicate.   
     
     
         2 . The two part composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylates and alcohol ethoxysulfates. 
     
     
         3 . The two part composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent mixture comprises:
 15 to 25 percent by volume of D-limonene;   25 to 35 percent by volume of a nonionic surfactant;   35 to 45 percent by volume of isopropyl alcohol; and   5 to 15 percent by volume of acetone.   
     
     
         4 . The two part composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of TRITON X-100, TRITON XL-80N, TERGITOL NP-6, TERGITOL NP-7, TERGITOL NP-8, NEXEO 579 and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The two part composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent mixture comprises:
 18 to 22 percent by volume of D-limonene;   28 to 32 percent by volume of a nonionic surfactant;   38 to 42 percent by volume of isopropyl alcohol; and   8 to 12 percent by volume of acetone.   
     
     
         6 . The two part composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of TRITON X-100, TRITON XL-80N, TERGITOL NP-6, TERGITOL NP-7, TERGITOL NP-8, NEXEO 579 and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The two part composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the monoterpene is selected from the group consisting of citral, citronellal, citronellol, D-limonene and linalool. 
     
     
         8 . The two part composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the monoterpene is D-limonene. 
     
     
         9 . The two part composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the short chain alcohol is selected from the group consisting of propanol, isopropanol, butanol and isobutanol. 
     
     
         10 . The two part composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the short chain alcohol is isopropanol. 
     
     
         11 . The two part composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the short chain ketone is selected from the group consisting of acetone and 2-butanone. 
     
     
         12 . The two part composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the short chain ketone is acetone. 
     
     
         13 . A process for extracting bitumen from bitumen containing ore comprising the steps of:
 adding a solvent mixture to an aliquot of bitumen containing ore, the solvent mixture comprising:
 7 to 27 percent by volume of a monoterpene; 
 15 to 45 percent by volume of a nonionic surfactant; 
 25 to 45 percent by volume of a short chain alcohol; and 
 5 to 15 percent by volume of a short chain ketone; 
   mixing said ore and aliquot with water to form a mixture;   dispensing an aqueous pH builder selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate, an aqueous solution of potassium carbonate, an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, an aqueous solution of sodium silicate and an aqueous solution of potassium silicate into the mixture;   mixing;   dispensing air into the mixture;   collecting a primary froth; and   collecting a secondary froth.   
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the organic solvent mixture comprises:
 15 to 25 percent by volume of D-limonene;   25 to 35 percent by volume of a nonionic surfactant;   35 to 45 percent by volume of isopropyl alcohol; and   5 to 15 percent by volume of acetone.   
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of TRITON X-100, TRITON XL-80N, TERGITOL NP-6, TERGITOL NP-7, TERGITOL NP-8, NEXEO 579 and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the organic solvent mixture comprises:
 18 to 22 percent by volume of D-limonene;   28 to 32 percent by volume of a nonionic surfactant;   38 to 42 percent by volume of isopropyl alcohol; and   8 to 12 percent by volume of acetone.   
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of TRITON X-100, TRITON XL-80N, TERGITOL NP-6, TERGITOL NP-7, TERGITOL NP-8, NEXEO 579 and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylates and alcohol ethoxysulfates. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 13  carried out at a temperature below 40° C. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the monoterpene is selected from the group consisting of citral, citronellal, citronellol, D-limonene and linalool. 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 20 , wherein the monoterpene is D-limonene. 
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylates and alcohol ethoxysulfates. 
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the short chain alcohol is selected from the group consisting of propanol, isopropanol, butanol and isobutanol. 
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the short chain alcohol is isopropanol. 
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the short chain ketone is selected from the group consisting of acetone and 2-butanone. 
     
     
         26 . The process according to  claim 25 , wherein the short chain ketone is acetone. 
     
     
         27 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the solvent mixture added is between 0.1 mL and 5 mL per 100 g of ore.

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