Patent ID: 7357857
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A process for extracting bitumen from a matrix including mineral solids comprising: a. preparing a bitumen froth comprising particulate mineral solids and hydrocarbons dispersed in aqueous lamella in the form of an emulsion; b. adding a sufficient amount of a paraffinic solvent to the froth to induce inversion of the emulsion and precipitate asphaltenes from the resultant hydrocarbon phase; c. mixing the froth and the solvent for a sufficient time to dissolve the solvent into the hydrocarbon phase to precipitate asphaltenes; and d. subjecting the mixture to gravity or centrifugal separation for a sufficient period to separate substantially all of the water and solids and a substantial portion of the asphaltenes from the bitumen; wherein a separation enhancing additive is present in the process; the separation enhancing additive is a polymeric surfactant having multiple lipophilic and hydrophilic moieties and an aromatic moiety content of from about 15 to about 65 weight percent; and the lipophilic moieties are lipophilic aromatic groups.