| This research is a follow up to preliminary studies reported by Beier and Sego (2008) and the objective is to investigate laboratory scale dewatering of oil sands total tailings using cross flow filtration technology. A laboratory experiment was setup in Oil Sands Tailings Research Facility and tests were carried out under different operational conditions using different tailings. The experiments showed clean filtrate water generated under all test conditions. Coarser tailings and higher filter pipe porosity resulted in greater filtrate flux rate. The effect of slurry velocity, residual bitumen, and transmembrane pressure on cross flow filtration performance was also evaluated. A dimensional analysis was developed using the laboratory tests to establish the relationships between measured parameters and to assist and guide future experimental programs. |
