The Role of Water-Soluble Species in Bitumen Recovery From Oil Sands

Bitumen recovery is affected by the water-soluble acid species located in the working area, and this paper takes a look at those interactions and the outcomes each may have on oil-sands recovery. Varying parameters on recovery (e.g., oil-sands components, physicochemical and dielectric properties, and organic compounds found in water) are studied to determine the effects of adsorbed species and their interactions between the water-soluble compounds and bitumen present in oil sands. This research allows the industry to better determine both plans for heavy-oil recovery and water treatment.