Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.82, No.4, 801-806, 2004
Effect of temperature on the stability of froth formed in the recycle process water of oil sands extraction
The formation of a stable froth on the top of separation vessels plays an important role in bitumen flotation during bitumen recovery from oil sands. The effect of temperature on the stability of froth using recycle process water employed in bitumen extraction was investigated using a water column. The froth became less stable with increasing solution temperature. Once the solution temperature increased above 50 degreesC, irreversible precipitation of the surfactants present in the recycle process water was observed, resulting in a less stable froth.