Patent ID: 8354067
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A system for recovering energy, materials or both from asphaltene-containing tailings, comprising: a flotation apparatus for separating asphaltene-containing tailings into an asphaltene-rich froth and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase, the flotation apparatus including an asphaltene-containing tailings inlet, an asphaltene-rich froth outlet, and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase outlet; a gravity separation apparatus for separating the asphaltene-rich froth into a heavy mineral concentrate and a light tailings, the gravity separation apparatus including a heavy mineral concentrate outlet, a light tailings outlet, and an asphaltene-rich froth inlet, the asphaltene-rich froth inlet being routed to the asphaltene-rich froth outlet; a hydrophobic agglomeration mixing apparatus for dispersing a hydrophobic agglomeration agent within the light tailings, the hydrophobic agglomeration mixing apparatus including a mixed light tailings outlet and a light tailings inlet, the light tailings inlet being routed to the light tailings outlet; and a hydrophobic agglomeration settling apparatus for separating an asphaltene concentrate from the light tailings, the hydrophobic agglomeration settling apparatus including a mixed light tailings inlet routed from the mixed light tailings outlet, an asphaltene concentrate outlet and a water and mineral solids outlet.