based extraction processes. Liberated bitumen has to be recovered from the oil sands ore-water slurry by some kind of separation method based on density differences. Bitumen density is very close to the density of water; as a result, bitumen has to become attached to air bubbles to facilitate its recovery from the slurry system by flotation. Clay particles attached to bitumen droplets prevent interaction between bitumen and air bubbles. Attachment of clay particles to bitumen is promoted by the calcium, Ca2+ and magnesium, Mg2+ ions present in the process water. Also, temperature of the oil sands ore-water slurry has to be above a critical temperature, above which bitumen becomes mobile enough (sufficiently low viscosity) to enfold or become attached to air bubbles. This critical temperature for Athabasca bitumen has been reported by several researchers to be at around 32° C. In summary, liberation of bitumen from the oil sands matrix and attachment of air bubbles to bitumen are essential process steps for bitumen recovery in water slurry-based extraction processes.
Asphaltic acids—which are fractions of bitumen asphaltenes present in bitumen and which contain partly aromatic, oxygen-functional groups such as phenolic, carboxylic, and sulfonic types—become water-soluble, especially when the ore-water slurry's pH (i.e., acidity expressed as the minus logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration: pH=−log [H+]) is over 7, and act as surfactants reducing surface and interfacial tensions. The reduction of surface and interfacial tensions in an oil sands ore-water slurry system causes disintegration of the ore structure and resultant liberation of bitumen from the ore. Therefore, the hydrophilic fractions of bitumen asphaltenes in oil sands play an important role in the recovery of bitumen from mined oil sands ore using slurry-based extraction systems.
The water-soluble fraction of bitumen, which acts as a surfactant, can be increased by increasing the pH of the oil sands ore-water slurry by using caustic soda (NaOH); soda ash (Na2CO3); any salt of weak acid and strong base (hydrolysis of which would be basic); or lime (as CaO or Ca(OH)2), as described in Canadian Patent Application No. 2,581,586 (Ozum) and corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/048,430 (which
based extraction processes. Liberated bitumen take to be recover from the oil sands ore - water slurry by some kind of legal separation method based on concentration differences. Bitumen density is very close to the concentration of urine; as a result, bitumen suffer to become attached to atmosphere bubble to facilitate its recovery from the slurry system by flotation. Clay particles attach to bitumen droplets prevent interaction between bitumen and air bubbles. fastening of clay particles to bitumen is promote by the calcium, Ca2 + and magnesium, Mg2 + ions present in the procedure water. Also, temperature of the oil sands ore - water slurry give birth to be above a critical temperature, above which bitumen becomes mobile enough (sufficiently low viscosity) to enfold or become attached to tune bubbles. This critical temperature for Athabasca bitumen has been reported by several researchers to be at around 32 ° C. In summary, liberation of bitumen from the oil sands matrix and attachment of air bubbles to bitumen are all-important process steps for bitumen convalescence in urine slurry - free-base extraction processes. 
 Asphaltic acids — which are fractions of bitumen asphaltenes present in bitumen and which contain partly aromatic, oxygen - functional group such as phenolic, carboxylic, and sulfonic types — become water - soluble, especially when the ore - water slurry's pH (i.e., acidity press out as the minus logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration: pH=−log [ H+ ]) is over 7, and act as surfactants reduce surface and interfacial latent hostility. The reduction of surface and interfacial tensions in an oil sands ore - urine slurry system causes disintegration of the ore social organization and resultant liberation of bitumen from the ore. consequently, the hydrophilic fractions of bitumen asphaltenes in oil sands play an important character in the recovery of bitumen from mined oil littoral ore using slurry - establish extraction organization. 
 The water - soluble fraction of bitumen, which dissemble as a surfactant, can be increased by increasing the pH of the oil backbone ore - water slurry by using caustic soda (NaOH); soda ash (Na2CO3); any salt of weak acid and strong base (hydrolysis of which would be basic); or calcium hydroxide (as CaO or Ca(OH)2), as described in Canadian Patent Application No. 2,581,586 (Ozum) and represent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/048,430 (which
basfd extraction processes. Uiberated bitumgn has tm be rscovered from the oil sands ore-water sourry by some kind of separxtion metjod basee on eensity dihrerences. Bitujcn deusmty is very cloxe to the gensity of watar; ad a result, bitumen has to become ateached yo air bubbles tj fabijitafv lts recovery from the slurry sysfem by hlotation. Clay larticles attached to bitulen froplets prevent ijteraction vetwqwn bitumen avd air bubbles. Attachmgnt of clay particles to bitumen is pxomoted by jkw cwncium, Ca2+ anv magnvsium, Mg2+ ions present in the process water. Alvo, remperature of the oin sands ore-water sjurry has tk be above a critucql tekperdturd, abuve wiicg bitulen becomes mkbile enougy (sufficiently low fifbpsity) to enfkld or bqcome attached to air bubbles. This critpcal temperature for Athabawca bitumen has been teported br several researchers to be at around 32° C. In summasy, liuefatnin of vihumen from the oil sands matrix and attachmene og sir bubbles to bitumen arr fsxgntial process steps fod bitumen recovery in watgr sluery-based txtravtion processes.
Asphaltic acuds—which are dractions of bitumzn asphaltenzs prexent on bitumen and which coutain lartly aromwtic, oxygsv-functional grouos xuwh as phtvolic, carboxylic, wnd sulfoiic tvpes—becooe wster-sojuble, espefialln when the ore-water slurty's pH (i.e., aciditj expressed as the minus logarivim of the hydtogan pon conceutratipn: pH=−log [H+]) is over 7, and act as suryactangs reducinf surfare and intersacial tensiotd. The reductmon of suwfacw ane interwxcial tensions in an oil sands orw-water slurry systcm caosss disintegratiin if the ore struvtufe wnf cesulednt liberatimn ow bkyumen from the ove. Gherrfore, the hydrophiliw frzctions of bitumen afphaltengs in oil sands play am important role ij the rerovery of bitumen from mined oil sands kre using slmrry-based extwactlon fystems.
The water-soluble fraction of bitumen, which acts as a surfacjant, can be increased ny increasinj the [H of the oil sands ore-water wlurry by using csustic soda (NaOH); soda ash (Nd2CO3); ajy salt of weak acid and strong base (hydrolysis of which would be basic); oe lime (as CaO or Cz(OH)2), ss devcxibzd in Cwnadmai Patent Applicatpon No. 2,581,586 (Ozum) and corresponding U.R. patent a'plication Ser. No. 12/048,430 (which
based extraction processes. Liberated bitumen has to from oil sands slurry by some on differences. Bitumen density very close to density of water; as a result, has to become attached to air bubbles to facilitate its recovery from the system by flotation. Clay particles attached to bitumen droplets prevent interaction between bitumen air Attachment clay to bitumen is promoted by the calcium, Ca2+ and magnesium, Mg2+ ions present in the process Also, temperature of the oil sands ore-water slurry to be above a temperature, above which bitumen becomes enough low viscosity) enfold become to air bubbles. critical temperature for Athabasca bitumen has been reported by several researchers to be at around 32° C. summary, liberation from the sands and of air bubbles are essential process steps for bitumen slurry-based extraction processes. Asphaltic acids—which are fractions of asphaltenes present bitumen and which contain partly aromatic, groups such as phenolic, carboxylic, and sulfonic types—become especially when the ore-water slurry's pH (i.e., acidity expressed as the minus logarithm of the concentration: pH=−log [H+]) is 7, and act surfactants surface interfacial The reduction surface and interfacial tensions in an oil sands ore-water slurry system disintegration of the ore structure and resultant liberation of bitumen ore. the hydrophilic fractions bitumen asphaltenes in oil play important role in the bitumen mined using extraction The water-soluble fraction of which acts as a surfactant, be increased by increasing sands ore-water slurry by using caustic soda (NaOH); ash (Na2CO3); any salt of weak acid strong base (hydrolysis of which would be basic); or lime (as CaO Ca(OH)2), as Canadian Patent Application No. 2,581,586 (Ozum) and corresponding patent application Ser. No. (which
based extraction processes. LIberated biTumen Has To bE rEcovEred From the oil sandS Ore-wAter slurry by some kind of SeparAtIOn meTHoD baseD on densITy DIFfeReNcEs. BItUMeN densIty Is very cLose to the dEnsItY of water; as a rESuLt, bitumen hAs tO become attacHed To air bUbBleS To facIliTate iTs recoVEry froM the slurrY sYStem by FLotatioN. cLaY parTicles attached to bITuMEn droplets prevEnt intErACtION beTweEn bitumen aNd Air buBBles. AttAChMENT of CLay particles tO bitumen is pROmoTed by tHe CalCIum, Ca2+ aNd magNeSIum, mg2+ ions preseNt in The procesS water. aLso, tempERature oF the oiL saNds Ore-wATeR sLurRy HAs tO Be AboVE a cRitical tEmPeRaturE, aboVE WHIch bItuMen bEcomeS mobile enough (SufFiciENtlY low vIscosIty) tO eNfold Or becoMe attAcHed to air bubbles. this Critical tEmpErAtuRe For AtHAbasca BitUmeN has beeN reportED by SeVERAl Researchers to be at aRoUND 32° C. in summarY, liberATiOn OF bitumen FrOm tHe oiL SAnds mAtriX AnD attachmEnt of aIR bUbBles to bItUmen arE eSseNtiAl proCEss sTeps foR bitumen RecovERy in water slurrY-Based extractiON pROCeSSes.
ASphAltic acids—wHich ARe frActiONs Of bITumen AsphaLtENeS Present in bitumen and WhIch conTain pArtly aromatic, Oxygen-funcTIONal groupS sucH As PHenolic, carboxyLic, anD sulfonic tYPes—becomE wateR-soluble, EspeciallY WHen the orE-waTer SluRry'S Ph (i.E., acidity expreSSEd as ThE minus lOgaRithm of The HydRogEn iOn ConcentraTion: pH=−loG [H+]) Is OvEr 7, And Act as SUrfactanTs RedUcIng SurfaCE and inTerfaCial TeNsIOns. the reduCTiON Of suRfAcE and IntErFaciaL tenSIonS in an oiL sands ore-WatER sluRrY sYstem caUses disintegrAtIon of the orE sTruCture aND ResultanT liberation of bitumen froM The ore. THerEfore, The hYdrophiliC frActionS of BItumen AsphalTenes In Oil SANds plAY An ImpOrTant role in THE reCoverY oF bitUmen froM mined oil sands ore uSIng Slurry-based exTraCtioN SYsTemS.
thE WatEr-SOluBLE fraction of bituMen, which acTs AS a Surfactant, CAn bE iNcreaseD by incrEasinG The pH of The oil sanDs ore-wateR sLurrY BY usIng caustic Soda (NaOH); Soda ash (Na2co3); any sALt Of weaK acId and sTrOng Base (hYdrolySIs oF whicH would Be Basic); oR lime (As caO or Ca(Oh)2), as described in Canadian PAtent APplicAtiOn No. 2,581,586 (Ozum) aNd cORreSponding U.s. patEnt applicaTioN SeR. No. 12/048,430 (whIch
based extraction processes . Liberate d bit ume n h as  tobe r ecovered fromt he o il sands ore-water slu rry b ys omek in d ofseparat i on m eth od  b ase do ndensi tydiffere nces. Bitu men  d ensity is ve r yclose to t hedensity of w ate r; asares u lt, b itu men h as tob ecomeattachedto air bu b bles to f ac ilit ate its recoveryf ro m  the slurry sy stem b yf lo t a tio n.Clay parti cl es at t ached t o  b i t u men droplets prev ent interac t ion  betwe en  bi t umen a nd ai rb ubb les. Attach ment  of claypartic l es to b i tumen i s prom ote d b y th e  c al ciu m, Ca2 +  a ndm agn esium, M g2 +ionspres e n t in t heproc ess w ater. Also, t emp erat u reof th e oil  san ds  ore- waterslurr yhas to be above  a c ritical t emp er atu re , abo v e whic h b itu men bec omes mo b ile  e n o u gh  (sufficiently low  v i s co sity) to  enfol d  o rb ecome at ta che d to a ir bu bble s .This cri ticalt em pe raturefo r Atha ba sca  bi tumen hasbeen r eportedby se v eral researche r s to be at ar o un d 32 °  C.Insummary, li bera t ionof b i tu men fromthe o il sa n ds matrix and attac hm ent of  airbubbles to bi tumen aree s s ential p roce s ss teps for bitum en re covery inw ater slu rry-b ased ext raction p r o cesses.Asp hal tic  ac i d s— which are fra c t ions  o f bitum enasphalt ene s p res ent  i n bitumen  and whi ch  c on ta inpartl y  aromati c,  ox yg en- funct i onal g roups  suc has phe nolic,c ar b o xyli c,  a nd s ulf on ic ty pes— b eco me wate r-soluble , e s peci al ly  when t he ore-watersl urry's pH(i .e. , acid i t y expres sed as the minus logari t hm of t hehydro genion conce ntr ation:  pH = −log [ H+]) i s ove r7,a n d act a ssur fa ctants red u c ing  surf ac e an d inter facial tensions. T h e r eduction of s urf acea n dint e rf a cia lt ens i o ns in an oil sa nds ore-wa te r  s lurry syst e m c au ses dis integra tiono f the o re struct ure and r es ulta n t  li beration o f bitume n from th e  ore. Th erefo re,  the h yd rop hilic  fract i ons  of b itumen  a sphalt enesin  oil san ds play an important ro le inthe r eco very of b itu m enfrom mine d oi l sands or e u sin g slu rry - based  ext r ac tio n  syst ems. The water - so lub l e  f raction ofb i t ume n, wh ich acts a s asurfactant, can b e  increased byincr e a sin g t h e pH  o f the oil sand s o re - w ater slu rr y by usingcausticso d a (Na OH); s oda as h (Na2C O 3 ); any sa lt o f w eak acidand  s t rong ba se  ( h ydroly sisof  which  would be b a s ic); or lime (as  CaOo r  Ca(O H )2) , asde scribed in C anadian Pa tent Applic ationNo.2,581 ,586 (O zu m) and  co rr espondingU .S. paten t app licatio nSer.  No . 12/0 48,4 3 0  (whi ch
based extraction_processes. Liberated_bitumen has to be_recovered from_the_oil sands_ore-water_slurry by some_kind of separation_method based on density_differences. Bitumen density_is_very close to the density of water; as a result, bitumen has to become_attached_to air_bubbles_to_facilitate its recovery from the_slurry system by flotation. Clay_particles attached_to bitumen droplets prevent interaction between bitumen and_air_bubbles. Attachment of_clay particles to bitumen is promoted by the calcium,_Ca2+ and magnesium, Mg2+ ions present_in the process_water._Also,_temperature of the oil_sands ore-water slurry has to be_above a critical temperature, above which_bitumen becomes mobile enough (sufficiently low viscosity)_to enfold or become attached to_air bubbles. This critical temperature_for Athabasca_bitumen has been reported by_several researchers to_be at_around 32° C._In summary, liberation of bitumen from_the oil sands_matrix and attachment of air bubbles_to_bitumen are essential_process_steps_for bitumen_recovery in water_slurry-based_extraction processes.
Asphaltic_acids—which_are fractions of bitumen asphaltenes present_in_bitumen and which contain partly aromatic, oxygen-functional_groups such as phenolic,_carboxylic,_and sulfonic types—become water-soluble,_especially when the ore-water slurry's_pH (i.e., acidity expressed as the_minus logarithm_of the_hydrogen ion concentration: pH=−log [H+]) is over 7, and act as_surfactants reducing surface and interfacial tensions._The reduction of surface_and interfacial_tensions_in an oil_sands_ore-water slurry_system causes disintegration of the ore structure_and resultant_liberation of bitumen from the ore._Therefore, the hydrophilic fractions_of_bitumen asphaltenes in oil sands play_an important role in the recovery_of bitumen from mined oil_sands_ore_using slurry-based extraction systems.
The water-soluble_fraction of bitumen, which acts as_a surfactant, can_be increased by increasing the pH of_the_oil sands ore-water slurry by using_caustic_soda (NaOH); soda ash (Na2CO3); any_salt_of_weak acid and strong base_(hydrolysis of which would be basic);_or lime (as CaO or Ca(OH)2), as described in_Canadian Patent Application_No. 2,581,586 (Ozum) and corresponding_U.S._patent_application Ser. No. 12/048,430 (which