Mixing Effects on Chemical Demulsifier Performance in Diluted Bitumen and Froth

The impact of mixing on water removal from diluted bitumen and bitumen froth is studied, with the goal of maximizing demulsifier performance. The relative effects of bulk concentration, mixing intensity, mixing time and injection concentration on the demulsifier performance are evaluated. A Confined Impeller Stirred Tank (CIST) with a more uniform turbulence distribution and mixing field than a conventional stirred tank is used in the experiments. Mixing is as important as the bulk concentration at a bulk concentration close to the minimal requirement, and can avoid the "overdosing" problem at a very high bulk concentration. The total mixing energy, J, which combines mixing intensity and mixing time, is the first mixing variable and the injection concentration is the second key mixing variable. Mixing strategies developed from the diluted bitumen system were equally applicable to bitumen froth. Addition order affected the demulsifier performance.