Ash removal from bitumen using ultrasonic falling film contactor

作者：Dehbani Maryam; Rahimi Masoud^*

来源：Fuel Processing Technology, 2018, 173: 30-39.

DOI：10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.01.010

• Bitumen
• Ash removal
• De-ashing
• Ultrasound
• Falling film contactor

In present study, Ultrasonic Falling Film (USFF) contactor has been proposed as a novel technology for enhancing ash removal from natural bitumen. Similar to froth flotation technology, separation of gangue from valuable particles using USFF is based on difference in hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of particles. The most significant reason for positive effect of USFF is micro cavitation bubbles which play a role of producing bubbles in froth flotation technology and carry hydrophobic particles to the free surface. Micro-scale cavitation bubbles provide high surface area which gives the chance to carry more particles to the surface. Also, ultrasound induces micro-turbulence through the medium that help more dispersion of bubbles. Falling film contactor provided thin fluid layer, which intensify physical effects of ultrasound, with high contact surface area with the air, which provide more possibility to float for valuable particles, so flotation of bitumen particles become quite efficient. SEM images showed that the bubble cavitation breakage and transmutation of the particles that lead to increasing the surface area and in consequence increase in the hydrophilicity of ash-forming minerals and hydrophobicity of bitumen particles. Ash removal of 80.2% and bitumen yield of 78.7% was achieved at optimum conditions which were determined using (Artificial Neural Network) ANN and (Response Surface Methodology) RSM models.

• 出版日期2018-5