Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
$25,000.00
Use of Lime as a Coagulant in Oil Sands Tailings Treatment
FY 2017-18
Summary
Fluid fine oil sands tailings (FFT) remain suspended in oil sands tailings disposal ponds for decades as a result of the low settlement or consolidation rate. This study explores a method of treating FFT with lime or with lime and carbon dioxide to improve FFT dewatering, strength and release water quality and to demonstrate benefits for non-segregating tailings technologies. Graymont Western Canada Inc., a North American leader in the supply of lime and limestone products, wishes to investigate the process performance using one of its lime products. NAIT's Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability (COSS), in collaboration with Graymont, will determine the impact of varying a) lime dosages and b) adjusting pH using CO2 on short- and long-term volume reduction as well as strength development in treated FFT. The residual bitumen removal from the treated FFT will also be recorded. This project builds a foundation for long-term collaboration as Graymont seek to position their technology into the Alberta oil sands marketplace. The technology has a strong potential to enhance economic and environmental sustainability in the oil sands industry. The objective of this project is to evaluate the suitability of adding lime, and lime plus CO2 in non-segregating and polymer-flocculated thickened tailings treatment processes. The suitability will be evaluated by investigating the impacts of iterative lime, and CO2, and polymer treatments on settling rate and final solids content, material strength, static yield stress, flow properties, rheology, and bitumen removal.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
513501-2017
Name nom
Dambrowitz, Christopher
Department département
Office of Research and Innovation
Organization id
25090
Institution établissement
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2017
Award amount
25000
Program id
CARD1
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 1
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
1002
Area of application group en
Northern development
Area of application group fr
Développement du nord
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1504
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Solid waste management (including radioactivity)
Research subject fr
Gestion des déchets dangereux (y compris radioactivité)
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Use of Lime as a Coagulant in Oil Sands Tailings Treatment
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Fluid fine oil sands tailings (FFT) remain suspended in oil sands tailings disposal ponds for decades as a result of the low settlement or consolidation rate. This study explores a method of treating FFT with lime or with lime and carbon dioxide to improve FFT dewatering, strength and release water quality and to demonstrate benefits for non-segregating tailings technologies. Graymont Western Canada Inc., a North American leader in the supply of lime and limestone products, wishes to investigate the process performance using one of its lime products. NAIT's Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability (COSS), in collaboration with Graymont, will determine the impact of varying a) lime dosages and b) adjusting pH using CO2 on short- and long-term volume reduction as well as strength development in treated FFT. The residual bitumen removal from the treated FFT will also be recorded. This project builds a foundation for long-term collaboration as Graymont seek to position their technology into the Alberta oil sands marketplace. The technology has a strong potential to enhance economic and environmental sustainability in the oil sands industry. The objective of this project is to evaluate the suitability of adding lime, and lime plus CO2 in non-segregating and polymer-flocculated thickened tailings treatment processes. The suitability will be evaluated by investigating the impacts of iterative lime, and CO2, and polymer treatments on settling rate and final solids content, material strength, static yield stress, flow properties, rheology, and bitumen removal.
