Article
Energy & Fuels
An Li, Rui Li, Ci Yan, Han Wang, Qingxia Liu, Jacob H. Masliyah, Hongbo Zeng, Zhenghe Xu
Summary: This study aims to understand the effects of different types and wettability of clays on bitumen extraction from mined oil sands. The results showed that hydrophilic clays had a detrimental effect on the extraction process, with montmorillonite being the worst. The crucial role of clays in slime-coating on bitumen was studied, and clay concentration was found to determine the hetero-coagulation process between bitumen and clay.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diogo N. Cardoso, Sandra F. Gonsalves, Ana Rita R. Silva, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Frederick J. Wrona, Susana Loureiro
Summary: In order to understand the ecological effects of mining activities on aquatic systems in the Canadian oil sands region, it is important to understand the consequences of exposure to natural bitumen-containing soils/sediments. This study conducted laboratory-based bioassays to evaluate the potential ecotoxicological effects of eroded riverbank bitumen soils on different organisms. The results showed that the elutriates produced from natural bitumen had negative effects on tested organisms, indicating that eroded and transported bitumen-containing soils could be a source of contamination to aquatic biota.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Reza Khalkhali, Arman Peyravi, Zaher Hashisho, Phillip Choi
Summary: This study demonstrates that microwave heating is an effective method for removing cyclohexane in oil sands gangue when water is present. Microwave heating is selective and the energy is absorbed by water molecules and then transferred to cyclohexane molecules, causing them to vaporize. The research found that the efficiency of cyclohexane removal increases with increasing water content in the gangue.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Filipe H. B. Sosa, Pedro J. Carvalho, Joao A. P. Coutinho
Summary: Ionic liquids (ILs) have great potential as solvents and catalysts in the chemical industry, but the lack of efficient and economically viable recycling and purification processes hinders their practical application. This study focuses on understanding the separation of ILs from aqueous solution using membranes, a widely used technique in industry.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rohit Kumar Saw, Prathibha Pillai, Ajay Mandal
Summary: In recent decades, low salinity water flooding (LSWF) has gained attention for its effectiveness in oil recovery. However, there is a lack of studies in the literature on the potential of using Ionic Liquids (ILs) as candidates for chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) combined with LSWF. This study evaluates the synergistic effect of ILs with varying chain lengths with low saline ion tuned seawater (ITSW) for enhanced oil recovery from carbonate reservoirs. The analysis shows that ILs demonstrate a better synergistic effect with ITSW, reducing interfacial tension, altering rock wettability, and exhibiting less adsorption density at the reservoir temperature. ILs with the longest chain length ([C12mim] [BF4]) show superior properties and significantly increase oil recovery in low saline ITSW.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinjian Hou, Fei Song, Xinyu Ji, Shuanglong Lin
Summary: This study demonstrates that the use of ionic liquids can effectively enhance the recovery of heavy oil from oily sludges. Both [C(12)mim] [PF6] and [C(12)mim][Br] ionic liquids show promising results in terms of increasing the oil recovery and improving the sands' hydrophilicity. The high recovery rate and recyclability make the ionic liquids a viable option for enhancing oil recovery.
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Krishna Sapkota, Eskinder Gemechu, Abayomi Olufemi Oni, Linwei Ma, Amit Kumar
Summary: The study developed a bottom-up life cycle assessment model to evaluate GHG emissions associated with Canadian oil sands supply to China. Results showed that pathway I, involving pipeline transportation to Westridge, has lower emissions per barrel compared to pathway II, direct shipping to China. The emissions for shipping are mainly due to fuel use in the main engine, with SCO having 15% lower emissions than dilbit.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wei Yuan, Peiliang Zhu, Zhuang Kang, Yinlu Sun
Summary: The kinetic study of bitumen extraction from oil sands is crucial for improving efficiency and designing reactors in industrial applications. An improved pseudo-first-order kinetic model was developed in this study, assuming a constant Sherwood number and considering the mass transfer area. Experiments were conducted using five organic solvents to analyze the extraction kinetics of prepared bitumen microbeads. The results showed that the improved model had excellent fitting effects and petroleum ether/dichloromethane was identified as the best solvent. Additionally, the diameter of the bitumen microbeads decreased exponentially, and the mass transfer coefficients increased linearly with time for all solvents.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Angyin Wu, Xiaoya Li, Donghoon Lee, Jia Li, Jeonghun Yun, Cheng Jiang, Zongkang Li, Seok Woo Lee
Summary: In this study, a thermoresponsive ionic liquid (TRIL) was added to the electrolyte in a TREC system for ultralow-grade heat harvesting, resulting in high energy density and conversion efficiency. The solvation states of ions changed during charging and discharging across the phase change critical point, achieving significant improvement in energy efficiency compared to conventional systems. The tunable phase change temperature of the TRIL enhances the feasibility and resilience of the TREC system, providing a novel perspective for electrolyte design in electro-chemical cells.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sun Yinlu, Sun Yizhuo, Jia Yushan, Yuan Wei, Song Ximing
Summary: The study demonstrated that using an ionic liquid and dichloromethane solvent together can enhance bitumen recovery from oil sands, increase recovery rate, reduce clay fines, and avoid residue. This technology facilitates the separation of bitumen from sand, simplifies the recovery process, and effectively saves energy.
CHINA PETROLEUM PROCESSING & PETROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yan Wang, Congyan Liu, Yang Wang, Chaofeng Zhu, Xihai Chen, Bo Liu
Summary: The study successfully demonstrated the efficient utilization of low-grade thermal energy and solar energy using the polyoxovanadate-ionic liquid system, offering a new platform for electricity generation.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Marco A. da Silva, Fernanda Lopes Motta, Joao B. P. Soares
Summary: Mature fine tailings are a major environmental concern for the Canadian oil sands industry, but can be used to recycle bitumen and increase water recovery. Novel poly(acrylamide-co-lauric acid) can improve the performance of commercial flocculants and enhance the recovery of sediments with higher solids content.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohammadjavad Mohammadi, Seyed Mostafa Jafari Raad, Mohsen Zirrahi, Hassan Hassanzadeh
Summary: This study investigates the long-term fate of gases generated in situ during thermal oil recovery operations. The migration of these gases is found to be negligible in formations with continuous flow barriers, but potentially significant in formations with discontinuous flow barriers. Capillary barriers, particularly in sand layers, play a key role in controlling the upward migration of gases to prevent or reduce environmental risks. The migrated gas primarily consists of methane, free of CO2 and H2S, providing valuable insights for regulatory frameworks and risk assessments in thermal oil recovery operations.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Wamda Faisal, Fares Almomani
Summary: This review introduces the application of chemical demulsifiers in the recovery of oil from water and water from oil. Different types of surfactants involved in emulsion formation and stability enhancement are discussed, and promising demulsifiers such as nanoparticles, hyperbranched polymers, and ionic liquids are explored. Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and hyperbranched polymers achieve high oil recovery rates, while ionic liquids have limitations due to their high cost. Nanoparticles show excellent oil recovery behavior at low concentrations and ambient temperature.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anthony E. Bauer, L. Mark Hewitt, James W. Roy, Joanne L. Parrott, Adrienne J. Bartlett, Patricia L. Gillis, Warren P. Norwood, Martina D. Rudy, Sheena D. Campbell, Maegan R. Rodrigues, Lisa R. Brown, Ruth Vanderveen, Lorna E. Deeth, Emily A. M. Holman, Joseph Salerno, Julie R. Marentette, Christine Lavalle, Cheryl Sullivan, Kallie Shires, Melissa Galicia, Julian Rubino, Mitra Brown, Alicia O'Neill, Greg Bickerton, D. George Dixon, Richard A. Frank
Summary: The extraction of bitumen from oil sands deposits in northern Alberta generates large amounts of liquid tailings waste, known as oil sands process-affected water (OSPW), which is stored in tailings ponds. Chemicals from OSPW can contaminate surface water through groundwater systems. This study investigated the toxicity of groundwater from sites near and far from a tailings pond with OSPW influence. The results showed that the groundwater had toxicity towards various aquatic organisms, with organic components being more toxic to some species and inorganic components being more sensitive to others.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
