A Deep Look into the Microbiology and Chemistry of Froth Treatment Tailings: A Review

Effects of size and composition of bitumen drops on intra-oil diffusion and dissolution of hydrocarbon solvents in froth treatment tailings ponds

The rate of mass transfer of lower molecular weight hydrocarbons (naphtha) from bitumen drops in mature fine tailings of oil sand tailings ponds (OSTPs) may control their bioavailability and the associated rate of GHG production. Experiments were conducted using bitumen drops spiked with o-xylene and 1-methylnaphthalene to determine the mass transfer rate of these naphtha components from bitumen drops. The results were compared to simulations using a multi-component numerical model that accounted for transport in the drop and across the oil-water interface. The results demonstrate rate-limited mass transfer, with aqueous concentrations after 60 days of dissolution that were different than those in equilibrium with the initial drop composition (less for o-xylene and greater for 1-methylnaphthalene). The simulations suggest that mole fractions were unchanged at the center of the drop, resulting in concentration gradients out to the oil-water interface. Numerical simulations conducted using different drop sizes and bitumen viscosities also suggest the potential for persistent naphtha dissolution, where the time required to deplete 80% of the o-xylene and 1-methylnaphthalene mass from an oil drop was estimated to be on the order of months to years for mm-sized drops, and years to decades for cm-sized drops assuming instantaneous biodegradation in the aqueous phase surrounding the bitumen.

An optimized extraction and gas chromatography analysis method for the quantification of diluent hydrocarbons in froth treatment tailings

Froth treatment tailings are one type of waste stream generated during the extraction of surface-mined oil sands bitumen. To remove water and solids from bitumen froth recovered during the water-based extraction process, hydrocarbon diluent is added, and settling and/or centrifugation are applied to the diluted bitumen froth, producing diluted bitumen and froth treatment tailings. While recovery processes are in place to remove and recycle the diluent from froth treatment tailings, some residual diluent can remain. Since tailings are stored in outdoor ponds, the residual diluent can have implications for methanogenic microbial processes and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. This work presents a methodology to accurately extract and quantify diluent hydrocarbons from froth treatment tailings using gas chromatography. A cold-start temperature program is used to separate diluent hydrocarbons from any residual bitumen in the sample, and diluent is quantified using commercial standards as well as unprocessed diluent. A series of extraction parameters were tested and results from multiple conditions are shown with a rationale for the selected optimized parameters. Quantification of diluent in tailings samples is demonstrated from 60 to 5329 μg/g, and results from quality control standards show an average diluent recovery of 100 ± 10%.