Bitumen-­Solvent Product Cleaning

Nonaqueus extraction (NAE) of oil sands can eliminate the use of fresh water in recovering bitumen from oil sands. However, the extracted bitumen must be free of water and mineral/clay solids so that it can be used directly as a refinery feed without the need of upgrading.


This project is a systematic investigation of various physical and chemical methods aimed at cleaning up the NAE bitumen recovered from oil sands to meet this target while maintaining high bitumen recovery.

Bitumen-solvent product cleaning

Tony Yeung, Juan Darius

Misc

Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Intermolecular Forces and Interfacial Science

Hongbo Zeng

Award

EWR Steacie Memorial Fellowship

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Engineering Research Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Faculty of Engineering Career Research Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Great Supervisor Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Hatch Innovation Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

International Award for Outstanding Young Chemical Engineer

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Killam Annual Professorship

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Senior University of Alberta Engineering Research Chair

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Bitumen Froth Cleaning and Upgrading using Hydrothermal Treatment Plus Hot Filtration

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Qiang Chen, Shahrad Booran

Article in professional or trade journals

A Janus facilitated transport membrane with asymmetric surface wettability and dense/porous structure: enabling high stability and separation efficiency

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

A new synthesis process for the mass production of core/shell magnetic beads with tunable and uniform sizes, high magnetic susceptibility, and excellent acid resistance

Qi Liu, Xuyang Liu, Kaipeng Wang

Patent

Aggregation of Crude Oil-Modified Fine Solids in Aqueous and Non-aqueous Media

Juan Darius

Master Thesis

Alteration and Impact of Mineral Solids in Hydrothermal Treatment of Bitumen Froth

Arno De Klerk, Annapurna Sri Sowmya Turuga

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Asphaltene adsorption on sodium-citrate-modified magnetite nanoparticles

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Xuyang Liu, Kaipeng Wang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Behavior of Bitumen-coated Fine Solids in Organic Media from Non-aqueous Extraction of Oil Sands

Jing Liu

Doctoral Thesis/Dissertation

Bio-inspired, facile and scalable surface functionalization approach with small molecules for multitasking oil decontamination

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Bitumen Froth Cleaning Using Hydrothermal Treatment Plus Hot Filtration

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Qiang Chen, Shahrad Booran

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Bitumen Froth Cleaning Using Hydrothermal Treatment Plus Hot Filtration

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Qiang Chen, Shahrad Booran

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Destabilization of Bitumen-coated Fine Solids in Organic Media Induced by Water-assisted Biomolecule Flocculants Extracted from Guar Beans

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Camila Santander, Jing Liu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

EFFECT OF SOLVENT DEASPHALTING PROCESS ON THE PROPERTIES OF DEASPHALTED OIL AND ASPHALTENES FROM BITUMEN

Annapurna Sri Sowmya Turuga

Master Thesis

Effect of Salinity on Water/Oil Interface with Model Asphaltene and Non-Ionic Surfactants: Insights from Molecular Simulations

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Effect of charge density of reverse emulsion breaker on demulsification performance for steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) emulsions under high temperature and high pressure

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Effects of low-temperature hydrothermal treatment on the properties and removal of fine solids from nonaqueous extraction (NAE) bitumen

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Qiang Chen, Menatalla Ahmed

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Electrochemical investigation of the interactions of organic and inorganic depressants on basal and edge planes of molybdenite

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Electrodeposition of bitumen-, asphaltene-, or maltene-coated kaolinite from cyclohexane suspensions.

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Kaipeng Wang, Hanyu Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Facile and scalable surface functionalization approach with small silane molecules for oil/water separation and demulsification of surfactant/asphaltenes-stabilized emulsions

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Fine solids removal from NAE bitumen by surface functionalized magnetic particles

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Xuyang Liu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Free Radical and Cationic Addition due to Clay Minerals Found in Bitumen Froth at 250 °C Probed with Use of α-Methylstyrene and 1-Octene

Arno De Klerk, Annapurna Sri Sowmya Turuga

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

High Molecular Weight Guar Gum Assisted Settling of Fine Solids in Diluted Bitumen: Effect of Solvents

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Camila Santander

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

High-efficiency and Durable Removal of Water-in-Heavy Oil Emulsions Enabled by Delignified and Carboxylated Basswood with Zwitterionic Nanohydrogel Coatings

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Mingfei Pan

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Hydrogen transfer activity in bitumen froth: effect of temperature

Arno De Klerk, Joao Felipe Pereira Bassane

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrophobic Interactions in Water and Hydrophilic Interaction in Oil of Polymers, Emulsions and Bubbles

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrophobic Interactions in Water and “Hydrophilic” Interaction in Oil of Polymers, Minerals, Emulsions and Bubbles

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Interactions and Surface Wettability

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrothermal Treatment of Bitumen Froth: Impact of Mineral Solids and Water on Bitumen Properties

Arno De Klerk, Annapurna Sri Sowmya Turuga

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Hydrothermal Treatment of Oilsands Bitumen Froth at 400 °C: Influence of Minerals and Water on Hydrogen Transfer, Cracking, and Addition Reactions

Arno De Klerk, Joao Felipe Pereira Bassane

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Hydrothermal treatment of bitumen froth between 200 and 300 ºC

Arno De Klerk, Annapurna Sri Sowmya Turuga

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrothermal treatment of bitumen froth diluted with kerosene

Arno De Klerk, Joao Felipe Pereira Bassane

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Impact of Mineral Solids on Thermal Treatment of Bitumen Froth: A Literature Review

Arno De Klerk, Annapurna Sri Sowmya Turuga

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Impact of Solids on Bitumen Properties in Hydrothermal Treatment of Bitumen Froth

Arno De Klerk, Annapurna Sri Sowmya Turuga

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

In-Situ Hot Filtration of Bitumen Streams to Produce Dry and Solids-Free Bitumen Product

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Qiang Chen, Shahrad Booran

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

In-Situ Hot Filtration of Hydrothermally Upgraded Bitumen Products

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Qiang Chen

Misc:

Innovative Process for Bitumen Froth Cleaning Using Hydrothermal Treatment Plus Hot Filtration

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Qiang Chen, Shahrad Booran

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Interactions of Emulsion Drops and Gas Bubbles in Complex Fluids: Hydrophobic Interaction in Water and Hydrophilic Interaction in Oil

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Interfacial Behavior and Interaction Mechanism of Pentol/Water Interface Stabilized with Asphaltenes

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Intermolecular and Interfacial Interactions in Engineering Processes: Emulsions in Oil Production as An Example

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Intermolecular and Surface Forces at Solid/Oil/Water/Gas Interfaces in Petroleum Production

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Xinwei Cui, Ling Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Intermolecular and Surface Interactions at Solid/Oil/Water/Gas Interfaces in Oil Production

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Intermolecular and Surface Interactions in Engineering Processes

Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Kaolinite Surface Charges Developed in Cyclohexane in the Presence of Bitumen

Hanyu Zhang

Doctoral Thesis/Dissertation

Kaolinite surface charges developed in cyclohexane suspension with dissolved Span 80 or bitumen: Electrodeposition and adsorption/desorption studies.

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Kaipeng Wang, Hanyu Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Model Asphaltenes between Surfaces of Varying Polarity

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Molecular Dynamics Simulation on Water/Oil Interface with Model Asphaltene Subjected to Electric Field

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Wenhui Li

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Molecular Simulations on the Coalescence of Water-in-Oil Emulsion Droplets with Non-ionic Surfactant and Model

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Novel polymer nanoparticles with core-shell structure for breaking asphaltenes-stabilized W/O and O/W emulsions

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Partial Upgrading During Froth Treatment: A Possible Dream?

Arno De Klerk, Natalia Montoya Sanchez, Joao Felipe Pereira Bassane

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Potential for Partial Upgrading by Thermal Treatment of Bitumen Froth

Arno De Klerk, Joao Felipe Pereira Bassane

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Probing Molecular Interactions of Bitumen-coated Mineral Solids in Organic Solvents

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Jing Liu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Probing the Interaction Mechanism between Air Bubbles and Bitumen Surfaces in Aqueous Media Using Bubble Probe Atomic Force Microscopy

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the Interaction Mechanism between Oil Droplets with Asphaltenes and Solid Surfaces Using AFM

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Ling Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the Interactions of Emulsions, Bubbles and Fine Solids in Complex Fluids and Confined Space

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Probing the Interfacial Forces and Surface Interaction Mechanisms in Petroleum Production Processes

Hongbo Zeng, Xuwen Peng, Hao Zhang, Tao Wang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the Surface Forces between Air Bubbles and Bitumen via Direct Force Measurements: Effects of Aqueous Chemistry

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang, Tao Wang

Article in professional or trade journals

Probing the Surface Forces in Bitumen Extraction using a Bubble Probe AFM

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Probing the interactions between Pickering emulsion droplets stabilized with pH-responsive nanoparticles

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the interactions between Pickering emulsion droplets with pH-responsive nanoparticles

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Recent Advances in Bubble-based Technologies: Underlying Interaction Mechanisms and Applications

Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Xuwen Peng, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang, Tao Wang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Recent Advances in Hydrophobic Interactions and Surface Wettability

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Recent Advances in the Quantification and Modulation of Hydrophobic Interactions for Interfacial Applications

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Removal of Fine Solids from Bitumen by Polymer Flocculants during Non-aqueous Extraction of Oil Sands

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Jing Liu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Removal of fine solids from bitumen by hetero-aggregation and magnetic separation using surface-modified magnetite nanoparticles. Part I: Proof of concept.

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Xuyang Liu, Kaipeng Wang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Removal of fine solids from bitumen by hetero-aggregation and magnetic separation using surface-modified magnetite nanoparticles. Part II: role of surface modification

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Tony Yeung, Xuyang Liu, Kaipeng Wang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Removal of hydrophobic bitumen-coated fine solids from NAE bitumen using guar gum

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Camila Santander

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Removal of hydrophobic bitumen-coated fine solids from NAE bitumen using water droplets with modified interfacial chemistry and bio-inspired polymers

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Jing Liu

Other Event

Removal of hydrophobic bitumen-coated fine solids from bitumen using water droplets with amphiphilic chemicals during non-aqueous extraction of oil sands

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Camila Santander, Jing Liu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Removing Fine Solids from Oil through Water-assisted Flocculation using Biomolecules Extracted from Guar Beans

Camila Santander

Master Thesis

Researching hydrothermal treatment of bitumen froth: A three phase system challenge

Arno De Klerk, Natalia Montoya Sanchez

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Role of Molecular Architecture in the Modulation of Hydrophobic Interactions

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Stability of Colloidal Solids in Non-Aqueous Media

Tony Yeung, Juan Darius

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Stability of colloidal solids in non-aqueous media

Tony Yeung, Juan Darius

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Surface Interaction Mechanisms in Mineral Flotation: Fundamentals, Measurements, and Perspectives

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Surface-modified magnetite nanoparticles for fine solids removal from non-aqueous extracted bitumen

Qi Liu, Xiaoli Tan, Xuyang Liu

Article in professional or trade journals

Techniques for treating slop oil in oil and gas industry: A short review

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng, Wenshuai Yang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

The effect of clay type and solid wettability on bitumen extraction from Canadian oil sands

Hongbo Zeng, Han Wang

Article in professional or trade journals

Thermal Treatment of Bitumen Froth at a Temperature of 250 °C and the Role of Clay Minerals in this Process

Arno De Klerk, Annapurna Sri Sowmya Turuga

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Tunning water ionicity in water-assisted settling of bituminous fine solids.

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Camila Santander

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Understanding the Properties of Bitumen Froth from Oil Sands Surface Mining and Treatment of Water-in-oil Emulsions

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Camila Santander, Wenshuai Yang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Unraveling the Hydrophobic Interaction Mechanisms of Hydrocarbon and Fluorinated Surfaces

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Wenhui Li, Wenshuai Yang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Visbreaking of Bitumen Froth: Influence of Minerals, Water, and Solvent on the Physicochemical Changes in the Bitumen Phase

Arno De Klerk, Joao Felipe Pereira Bassane

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Viscosity Mixing Rules for Bitumen at 1-10 wt % Solvent Dilution When Only Viscosity and Density Are Known

Arno De Klerk, Natalia Montoya Sanchez

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article