METHODS FOR EXTRACTING BITUMEN FROM BITUMINOUS MATERIAL
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- adding a first quantity of first solvent to a bitumen material to form a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises a bitumen-enriched solvent;
separating a first quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent from the first mixture and thereby producing first solvent-wet tailings, wherein the first solvent-wet tailings comprise a first solvent component;
adding a quantity of second solvent to the first solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of the first solvent component from the first solvent-wet tailings and thereby producing second solvent-wet tailings, wherein the second solvent-wet tailings comprise a second solvent component; and
adding a quantity of water to the second solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of the second solvent component from the second solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for preparing solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The method can include the steps of adding a first quantity of first solvent to a bitumen material to form a first mixture, separating a first quantity of bitumen-enriched solvent from the first mixture and thereby creating first solvent-wet tailings, adding a quantity of second solvent to first solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of first solvent component from the first solvent-wet tailings and thereby producing second solvent-wet tailings, and adding a quantity of water to the second solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of second solvent component from the second solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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adding a first quantity of first solvent to a bitumen material to form a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises a bitumen-enriched solvent; separating a first quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent from the first mixture and thereby producing first solvent-wet tailings, wherein the first solvent-wet tailings comprise a first solvent component; adding a quantity of second solvent to the first solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of the first solvent component from the first solvent-wet tailings and thereby producing second solvent-wet tailings, wherein the second solvent-wet tailings comprise a second solvent component; and adding a quantity of water to the second solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of the second solvent component from the second solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31)
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24. A method comprising:
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forming a mixture of bitumen material with a first quantity of first solvent; adding a second quantity of first solvent to the mixture; adding a quantity of second solvent to the mixture; and adding a quantity of water to the mixture. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method comprising:
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providing polar solvent-wet tailings, wherein the polar solvent-wet tailings comprise a polar solvent component; and adding a quantity of water to the polar solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of the polar solvent component from the polar solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings.
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Specification