Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
13:19
Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants
Published on: June 3, 2022
6.0K
Advanced Polymer Flocculants for Solid-Liquid Separation in Oil Sands Tailings
Sarang P Gumfekar1, Vahid Vajihinejad1, João B P Soares1
1Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2V4, Canada.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|November 13, 2018
Summary
Oil sands operations generate significant tailings, prompting the development of novel polymer flocculants. These advanced materials show promise for improving solid-liquid separation in tailings treatment and aiding land reclamation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Oil sands operations produce large volumes of tailings, posing environmental challenges.
- Conventional polymer flocculants, often acrylamide-based, have limitations in treating complex oil sands tailings.
- Current treatment methods struggle to meet land reclamation targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce novel polymer flocculants specifically designed for oil sands tailings treatment.
- To detail recent advancements in the design, synthesis, and testing of these innovative polymers.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of tailings treatment technologies and flocculation modeling.
Main Methods:
- Design and synthesis of novel polymer flocculants with tailored microstructures (linear, branched, graft).
- Testing and evaluation of these polymers for solid-liquid separation in oil sands tailings.
- Review of existing tailings remediation technologies and flocculation modeling.
Main Results:
- Development of advanced polymer flocculants offering improved performance over conventional options.
- Categorization of novel flocculants based on their microstructural properties.
- Progress in optimizing tailings treatment processes for better environmental outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Innovative polymer flocculants represent a significant advancement in oil sands tailings treatment.
- Tailored polymer microstructures are key to enhancing solid-liquid separation efficiency.
- Further research and development are crucial for achieving land reclamation goals in oil sands operations.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:26Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids
55.1K
Particles in a solid are tightly packed together (fixed shape) and often arranged in a regular pattern; in a liquid, they are close together with no regular arrangement (no fixed shape); in a gas, they are far apart with no regular arrangement (no fixed shape). Particles in a solid vibrate about fixed positions (cannot flow) and do not generally move in relation to one another; in a liquid, they move past each other (can flow) but remain in essentially constant contact; in a gas, they move...
55.1K
00:51Speed of Sound in Solids and Liquids
3.9K
Most solids and liquids are incompressible—their densities remain constant throughout. In the presence of an external force, the molecules tend to restore to their original positions, which is only possible because the constituents interact. The interactions help the constituents pass on information about external disturbances, like sound waves. Therefore, sound waves travel faster through these media. Compared to solids, the constituents in a liquid are less tightly bound. Thus, sound...
3.9K
02:34Polymers
40.9K
The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
40.9K
02:34Polymers
23.3K
23.3K
02:37Metallic Solids
20.6K
Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
20.6K
02:22Structures of Solids
17.7K
Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...
17.7K