Characterization of organic‐coated solids isolated from different oil sands

Solids isolated from weathered oil sands ores and those having low‐ and high‐fine solids content were studied. The organic matter (OM) adsorbed on the solids was found insoluble in most common solvents, contributing significantly to the change of solid surface properties. The surface properties of these solids were found to affect the entire process cycle of obtaining synthetic crude oil from surface‐mined oil sands using a water‐based extraction process, and managing the existing tailings ponds. In this study, the low‐fine solids ore possessed the lowest amount of organic‐coated solids and highest bitumen recovery. Siderite and pyrite, which tend to concentrate in the hydrocarbon phase were observed in the isolated solids from the weathered and high‐fine ores but were absent in the low‐fine ores. In all the ores studied, the solids from the bitumen froth possess less quartz, and more carbonates compared with solids from the tailings. Elemental analysis by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and elemental analyser revealed the presence of more transition metals (iron and titanium), and carbon in the solids obtained from the bitumen froth when compared with those from the tailings. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy study substantiated the results obtained by X‐ray diffraction and elemental analysis. IR spectra showed a likely association between OM and carbonates in the organic‐coated solids isolated from bitumen froth. More organic‐coated solids were found in weathered oil sands than in other types of ores and observed to reduce bitumen recovery from oil sands.     

Non-crystalline inorganic matter-humic complexes in Athabasca oil sand and their relationship to bitumen recovery

Bitumen-free solids from different grades of Athabasca oil sand were fractionated according to particle size before and after treatment with sodium pyrophosphate (Na₄P₂O₇) solution. All solids showed decreasing amounts of organic matter from coarse to fine fractions. The concentration of organic carbon retained in all size fractions after the treatment was found to be significantly lower as compared with that before the treatment.The mineralogy and some chemical properties of the material separated as a result of treatment were investigated. The data obtained indicate that treatment releases mostly non-crystalline compounds (possibly metal oxides in some kind of association with humic matter).A cold-water agitation test (CWAT) was used to correlate bitumen recovery with the amount of inorganic matter-humic complexes separated. It was observed that most of the bitumen was liberated when inorganic matter-humic complexes could be separated during the CWAT. For some oil sands complexes could not be isolated and in these cases most of the bitumen appeared to be associated with that fraction of solids consisting of globules of fine sand and clay particles cemented together with humic matter.     

Wettability of fine solids extracted from bitumen froth

Production of synthetic crude oil from oil sands deposits in northern Alberta involves open pit mining, mixing the mined ore with water, extraction of aerated bitumen from the slurry, removal of water and solids from the froth formed, and upgrading heavy bitumen to liquid hydrocarbons. The success of the froth treatment operation, aimed at removal of fine solids and water from the bituminous froth, depends on the control of wettability of fine solids by the aqueous phase. Fine solids were extracted from bitumen froth by heptane. The partition of the extracted solids in aqueous, organic, and interphases was measured, and the wettability of the solids by water in various diluents was evaluated from contact angle measurements. The effect of diluent composition, sample drying, and surface washing on the wettability and fine particle partition was examined. The partition of fine particles correlated well with their wettabilities, and the results were found to be useful for interpreting the observations from froth treatment practice.     

Surface organic modification of titanium dioxide fine particles through photo polymerization

C?C unsaturated groups were chemically inserted onto TiO₂ particles surfaces through chemical reaction of hydroxyl group on the TiO₂ fine particle surface with 2,4‐diidocyanatotoluene (TDI) first, and then with 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA). Finally, TiO₂ fine particles with surface organic modification were made through the free radical copolymerization reaction with n‐butyl acrylate (BA) monomer under UV irradiation. The structure and properties of unmodified and modified TiO₂ were studied by FT‐IR, XPS, TGA, TEM, lipophilic rates, and adhesion properties tests. The results show that the surface of TiO₂ has been successfully introduced with the organic chains through chemical bonding linkage; the surface lipophilic rates of TiO₂ particles are increased. The dispersion and compatibility of the modified TiO₂ particles in a commercial ink 508C resin greatly improve as compared with that of unmodified TiO₂, and agglomeration of particles obviously reduces. The adhesion strength between the white printing ink made from the modified TiO₂ particles and BOPP is much better than that from the unmodified TiO₂. When the organic rate reached 24.93%, the adhesion strength reaches Grade I. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Particle Size Distribution of Organic Compounds in Aqueous Aerosols Collected from Above Sewage Aeration Tanks

Several classes of organic compounds were analyzed in aqueous aerosols collected in June, November, and December 1996 from above the sewage aeration tanks of a treatment plant (Prato, Italy). Particle size distribution of organic compounds and their enrichment ratio (E_r) with respect to the magnesium ion were determined to infer the extent to which various species were aerosolized. Organic components were found to be predominantly enriched in fine and large particles of the aerosol and their transfer may be attributed to the 1) adsorption of surfactant organic matter at the air/water interface (such phenomenon is particularly evident for the fine and ultra-fine fractions) and 2) flotation of colloidal matter from wastewater to the largest particles with consequent transport of the adsorbed organic compounds. In addition, the interaction of surfactants with hydrophobic compounds explained the enrichment of the latter in the finest fractions.     

Coagulation of Particles Through Rapid Mixing

As is often assumed, rapid mix effectively distributes the dosed coagulant in suspension to promote subsequent flocculation of suspended particles and coagulant molecules. This study determined that the role of rapid mix is considerably more complex than conventionally assumed. Particles in the raw water samples from the Banxing Water Works of Taipei City were coagulated at high shear environment, during which flocs of size 40-70 μm were produced. The produced floc interior was compacted, and residual turbidity and the amount of dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) in suspension were substantially reduced. The subsequent stage of rapid mix slightly reduces floc size, further compacts the floc interior, and expels fine particles and some adsorbed NOM from the flocs. A sudden reduction in shearing rate produced large sized flocs with not so compact structures. Moreover, this action released fine particles from flocs into the suspension and enhanced adsorption of NOM onto solid surfaces.     

Solvent screening for non‐aqueous extraction of Alberta oil sands

Non‐aqueous extraction of bitumen from oil sands has the potential to reduce fresh water demand of the extraction process and eliminate tailings ponds. In this study, different light hydrocarbon solvents, including aromatics, cycloalkanes, biologically derived solvents and mixtures of solvents were compared for extraction of bitumen from Alberta oil sands at room temperature and ambient pressure. The solvents are compared based on bitumen recovery, the amount of residual solvent in the extracted oil sands tailings and the content of fine solids in the extracted bitumen. The extraction experiments were carried out in a multistage process with agitation in rotary mixers and vibration sieving. The oil sands tailings were dried under ambient conditions, and their residual solvent contents were measured by a purge and trap system followed by gas chromatography. The elemental compositions of the extraction tailings were measured to calculate bitumen recovery. Supernatants from the extraction tests were centrifuged to separate and measure the contents of fine solid particles. Except for limonene and isoprene, the tested solvents showed good bitumen recoveries of around 95%. The solvent drying rates and residual solvent contents in the extracted oil sands tailings correlated to solvent vapour pressure. The contents of fine solids in the extracted bitumen (supernatant) were below 2.9% for all solvents except n‐heptane‐rich ones. Based on these findings, cyclohexane is the best candidate solvent for bitumen extraction, with 94.4% bitumen recovery, 5 mg of residual solvent per kilogram of extraction tailings and 1.4 wt% fine solids in the recovered bitumen. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Impact of preflocculation on scroll decanter centrifuge separation performance

Industrial scroll decanter centrifuge (SDC) separation of the solids in fluid fine tailings (FFT) which have particles 10 μm and smaller in size require flocculant addition. Accordingly, the mechanism in the centrifuge is flocculation of the fine solid particles followed by sedimentation. Thus, feeding preflocculated material obviates the flocculation step inside the SDC resulting in improved process efficiency by reducing the power consumption and increasing the throughput capacity of each SDC. This work evaluated the separation performance of the SDC using inline static mixers to preflocculate oil sands FFT containing solids, 90 mass% of which are < 9 μm in size. The minimum G‐forces required to achieve the industry benchmarks of < 1 mass% solids in the centrate water and > 97 % fines capture rate were 750 G without preflocculation and 400 G with preflocculation. Since power consumption by the SDC, as expected, was directly proportional to the G‐force, the savings in power due to preflocculation amounted to 47 %. Preflocculation increased SDC throughput capacity by up to 50 %. Operating at lower G‐force has the additional benefits of protecting the high‐capital‐cost SDC machine and reducing ambient noise levels.     

Use of the RAMS to Measure Semivolatile Fine Particulate Matter at Riverside and Bakersfield,California

Fine particles in urban environments contain substantial quantities of material that can be lost from the particles during sample collection on a filter. This materials include ammonium nitrate and semivolatile organic compounds. Methods for the accurate determination of these species in integrated samples have been developed using diffusion denuder samplers. However, it is often desirable to determine fine particulate matter on a continuous basis. The real-time ambient mass sampler (RAMS), a continuous monitor using diffusion denuder and tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) technologies, has been evaluated by monitoring fine particulate species in Riverside, CA during August and September, 1997, and in Bakersfield, CA during February and March, 1998. The results are compared to measurements made in 1 h integrated samples in Riverside and in 2 h integrated samples in Bakersfield with a diffusion denuder sampler, the particle concentrator-Brigham Young University organic sampling system (PC-BOSS). An average of 5% of the Riverside fine particulate matter was present as semivolatile ammonium nitrate and 33% as semivolatile organic material that was lost from a PC-BOSS filter during sampling. In Bakersfield the fraction of PM 2.5 lost from a PC-BOSS filter averaged 3% as semivolatile ammonium nitrate and 15% as semivolatile organic material. These species were correctly determined by the RAMS. However, the usefulness of the RAMS as a continuous monitor is limited by the blank variability with the design presented here.     

Coagulation of Particles Through Rapid Mixing

As is often assumed, rapid mix effectively distributes the dosed coagulant in suspension to promote subsequent flocculation of suspended particles and coagulant molecules. This study determined that the role of rapid mix is considerably more complex than conventionally assumed. Particles in the raw water samples from the Banxing Water Works of Taipei City were coagulated at high shear environment, during which flocs of size 40–70 μm were produced. The produced floc interior was compacted, and residual turbidity and the amount of dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) in suspension were substantially reduced. The subsequent stage of rapid mix slightly reduces floc size, further compacts the floc interior, and expels fine particles and some adsorbed NOM from the flocs. A sudden reduction in shearing rate produced large sized flocs with not so compact structures. Moreover, this action released fine particles from flocs into the suspension and enhanced adsorption of NOM onto solid surfaces.     

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of a circulating fluidized bed reactor for multi-pollutant control

Circulating fluidized bed adsorber (CFBA) technology is regarded as a potentially effective method for simultaneously controlling emissions of sulfur dioxide, fine particulate matter, and trace heavy metals, such as mercury vapor. In order to analyze CFBA systems in detail, a gas mixture/solids mixture model based on the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations is developed for particle flow, agglomeration, physical and chemical adsorption in a circulating fluidized bed. The solids mixture consists of two solids, one with components of CaO and CaSO₄, and the other being an activated carbon. The gas mixture is composed of fine particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide, mercury vapor, oxygen and inert gas. Source terms representing fine particulate matter agglomeration onto sorbent particles, sulfur dioxide removal through chemical adsorption onto calcined lime, and mercury vapor removal through physical adsorption onto activated carbon are formulated and included into the model. The governing equations are solved using high-resolution upwind-differencing methods, combined with a time-derivative preconditioning method for efficient time-integration. Numerical simulations of bench-scale operation of a prototype CFBA reactor for multi-pollutant control are described.     

Advanced water treatment of high turbid source by hybrid module of ceramic microfiltration and activated carbon adsorption: Effect of organic/inorganic materials

We investigated the effect of organic or inorganic materials on membrane fouling in advanced drinking water treatment by hybrid module packed with granular activated carbon (GAC) outside a tubular ceramic microfiltration membrane. Instead of natural organic matters (NOM) and fine inorganic particles in the natural water source, synthetic water was prepared with humic acid and kaolin. Concentrations of kaolin or humic acid were changed to see effects of inorganic or organic matter. And periodic water-back-flushing using permeate water was performed during 10 sec per filtration of 10 min. As a result, both the resistance of membrane fouling (R _f ) and permeate flux (J) were influenced higher by concentration of humic acid rather than kaolin. It was proved that NOM like humic acid could be a more important factor on membrane fouling in drinking water treatment than fine inorganic particles. Treatment efficiencies of turbidity and UV₂₅₄ absorbance were very high above 97.4% and 92.0%, respectively. This article is dedicated to Professor Chang Kyun Choi for celebrating his retirement from the School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University.     

Real-Time Characterization of the Composition of Individual Particles Emitted From Ultrafine Particle Concentrators

Particle concentrators are commonly used for controlling exposure levels to ambient ultrafine, fine, and coarse aerosols over a broad range of concentrations. For ultrafine aerosols, these concentrators require water condensation technology to grow and enrich these smaller sized particles (D _a < 100 nm). Because the chemistry of the particles is directly related to their toxicity, any changes induced by ultrafine concentrators on ambient particles need to be better characterized in order to fully understand the results obtained in health exposure studies. Using aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS), the size-resolved chemistry was measured of concentrated ultrafine and accumulation mode (50–300 nm) particles from several particle concentrators with different designs. This is the first report detailing the size-resolved distributions of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) particles sampled from concentrators. Experimental measurements of the single particle mixing state of particles in concentrated versus non-concentrated ambient air show transformations of ultrafine EC particles occur as they become coated with organic carbon (OC) species during the concentration process. Based on relative ion intensities, concentrated ultrafine particles showed a 30% increase in the amount of OC on the EC particles for the same aerodynamic size. An increase in the number fraction of aromatic- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-containing particles was also observed in both the ultrafine and fine size modes. The most likely explanation for such changes is gas-to-particle partitioning of organic components (e.g., water-soluble organic compounds) from the high volume of air used in the concentrator into aqueous phase ultrafine and fine aqueous particles created during the particle enrichment process.     

Behaviour of Cohesive Powders in a Powder‐Particle Spouted Bed

Behaviour of cohesive powders in a powder‐particle spouted Bed (PPSB) has been investigated under several operating variables and solids properties. The elutriation rate constant based on the hold‐up of fine powders in the bed decreased with a decrease in the size of fine powders, and with an increase in the size of coarse particles under a constant superficial gas velocity. This finding is quite different from the elutriation phenomena of particles more than 100 µm in size. Moreover, the mean residence time of fine powders increased with a decrease in the superficial gas velocity and the size of fine powders, and decreased with a decrease in the size of coarse particles.     

生物质燃油碳烟颗粒的形貌、结构与组分表征

通过微乳化工艺分别把不同含量的精制生物质裂解油与柴油进行混合(micro-emulsified biomass fuel, MEBF), 研究了该类燃油碳烟颗粒的形貌与结构, 并对其组分进行了表征。结果表明:该类燃油碳烟的一次颗粒形貌均为球形, 而且一次颗粒之间互相连接构成链状团聚物。同时, 精制生物质裂解油含量为20%(质量)(BS20)的混合油碳烟颗粒的平均粒径最小, 约为32 nm, 其他含量混合油碳烟颗粒的平均粒径均在38 nm左右。BS30石墨化程度高于其余碳烟, 且BS20颗粒表面C=O和C-O-C基团含量较高, 可能归因于混合油燃烧过程中复杂含氧组分的氧化程度不同。     

Zeta Potential Measurement in Catalyst Preparations

Oxide surfaces are covered with hydroxyl groups. In contact with water, positive or negative surface charges can be developed. The surface charge of oxide particles can be fine‐tuned by changing the calcination temperature of the oxides before dispersion in water or by variation of the suspension pH. Strong negative or positive surface charges stabilize a suspension and avoid particle aggregation. Nano‐structured catalysts suspended in water show surface charges different from those of compact TiO₂. For spray drying, the cationic or anionic additives used have to be strongly attached via electrostatic forces to the surface of the suspended oxide particles. When noble metal complexes have to be brought to the support surface, the positively or negatively charged complexes must have an opposite charge relative to the surface charge. Zeta potential measurements can solve these problems.     

Understanding weathering of oil sands ores by atomic force microscopy

Effect of weathering on colloidal interactions between bitumen and oil sands solids was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The change in bitumen chemistry due to weathering was found to have a negligible effect on the interactions of bitumen with solid particles. However, the increase in solid surface hydrophobicity due to ore weathering reversed the long‐range interaction forces between bitumen and solids from repulsive to attractive with a corresponding increase in adhesion force. The measured force profiles between bitumen and various solids can be well fitted with the extended DLVO theory by considering an additional attractive force. The attractive long‐range force and increased adhesion force make the separation of bitumen from solids more difficult and the attachment of fine solids on liberated bitumen easier, thereby leading to poor bitumen liberation and lower aeration efficiency. Such changes account for the observed poor processability of the weathered ores. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

Bulk coarse particle arching phenomena in a moving bed with fine particle presence

Bridging or arching of flowing solids particles is a serious hazard in the operation of moving bed systems. The mechanics of the arching has been extensively analyzed in the context of particle discharge from a hopper with conical geometry by considering the particulate layer stress distribution. However, bridging can also occur in a moving bed system with cylindrical geometry during the continuous mass flow of solids particles. Experimental work conducted in this study reveals that the appearance of solids bridging is normally accompanied by the presence of fine particles in the coarse moving particles as well as by the countercurrent interstitial gas flow. In this study, a stress analysis of the layered particles distributed in a cylindrical, vertical moving bed that flows downward opposing to upward flow of the interstitial gas is developed to quantify the bridging phenomenon. The analysis takes into account of the effects of presence of fine powder in the coarse particle flows and properties, such as particle‐size distribution, bed voidage, and interstitial gas flow rate. The experimental validation of the present stress analysis for moving bed systems with varied fine and coarse particle concentration distributions, and interstitial gas velocities is also conducted. The stress distributions of the particles under flowing and arching conditions are obtained. An arching criterion is formulated, which indicates that the critical radius of the standpipe to avoid arching phenomenon is only related to the property of the bulk solids in the present geometric configuration of the flow system. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 881–892, 2014     

Particulate Matter Soiling of Exterior Paints at a Rural Site

A soiling study was performed at an air monitoring site operated by the Research Triangle Institute in the relatively rural environmental conditions within Research Triangle Park, N.C. The study was designed to determine how various environmental factors contribute to the rate of soiling of white painted surfaces. Significant factors that were monitored were hourly rainfall and wind speed, and weekly data for dichotomous sampler measurements and total suspended matter concentrations. Gloss and flat white paints on hard-board were exposed vertically and horizontally, both protected and unprotected from rain for 16 wk. Measurements of exposed samples were taken at 2, 4, 8, and 16 wk. Reflectance was measured and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) stubs, which had been flush-mounted into the hardboard prior to painting, were removed at these times. Particle size distributions were determined by scanning electron microscopy. Major findings were: 1) reflectance change on sheltered surfaces was proportional to the fraction of the surface area covered by particles; 2) coarse mode particles contribute more than fine mode particles to soiling of both horizontal and vertical surfaces; 3) insoluble fine mode particles are not significantly washed off by rain; and 4) rain interacts with soluble particles to contribute to soiling by “staining” the surface.