Patent ID: 7749379

Claim:
A method for separating bitumen from oil sands, comprising: contacting a separating composition comprising from about 0.001% to about 2.5% by weight of 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyn-5,8-diol ethoxylate; from about 0.1% to about 4.0% by weight of an aromatic phosphate ester having the formula: wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 5 linear or branched alkyl group and n=1 to 8; up to about 4.5% by weight of sodium acid pyrophosphate; up to about 4.5% by weight of tetrapotassium pyrophosphate; from about 2% to about 9.5% by weight of sodium hydroxide; and from about 1.7% to about 8.6% by weight of phosphoric acid with oil sands comprising bitumen and sand; heating the separating composition and the oil sands; agitating the separating composition and the oil sands; and recovering the bitumen and sand as separate products.