Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability (COSS) will work with BASF Canada Inc. to assess a new technology, a calcium based polyacrylamide (Ca-PAM), developed to eliminate the addition of gypsum to tailings treatment processes. Use of gypsum as part of the chemical treatment of fluid fine tailings has proven to have negative impacts on oil sands bitumen extraction and the quality of water release for recycling into the extraction process. The oil sands is a major contributor to the Canadian economy, with well understood impacts on the environment, particularly with regards to tailings and water quality. Tailings represent the number one liability to oil sands mining firms, with an estimated treatment cost between 5 to 10 billion dollars for existing stockpiles. Potential impacts of new products, such as Ca-PAM, present an opportunity to improve tailings treatment. The data from this research will provide BASF with insight into potential technology refinement that will help industry's efforts to effectively manage tailings while optimizing bitumen recovery. Data from this study will also help oil sands mining operations understand the full impacts of this technology on extraction processes assisting with its potential adoption. NAIT staff will deepen their knowledge of oil sands tailings treatment and its impact on the bitumen extraction process. This project will benefit Canada's environment by enabling oil sands operators to reclaim decommissioned mines faster and require less fresh water in the oil sands mining process.