Abstract: A process for extracting lithium from lithium-bearing salt brines including: (i) subjecting a feed brine to a primary evaporation step using mechanical evaporators, to form a first concentrated brine and sodium chloride; (ii) separating the sodium chloride in a salt removal step; (iii) reacting lime with the first concentrated brine in a liming step to precipitate out and discard magnesium and sulphate ions and other contaminants and to form a limed brine; (iv) subjecting the limed brine to a secondary evaporation step, to form a second concentrated brine and precipitating calcium chloride; (v) separating the calcium chloride from the second concentrated brine; (vi) reacting sodium sulphate with the second concentrated brine to precipitate out and discard calcium sulphate, to form a lithium-rich brine; (vii) reacting soda ash with the lithium rich brine thereby forming a precipitate of lithium carbonate; and (viii) separating the lithium carbonate.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for preparing and oil sand slurry. Mined oil sand ore is deposited into a rotatable breaker tube. As the rotary breaker rotates, the ore is advanced and broken. Process fluid may be differentially distributed throughout the length of the rotary breaker, forming an oil sand slurry and assisting in the comminution and ablation of the ore. The comminuted oil sand and process fluid passes through perforations in the interior surface of the rotary breaker, and are collected in a hopper below, while oversized ore lumps are ejected out of the discharge end of the rotary breaker. The rotatable breaker tube is resistant to backflow at higher infeed rates.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying and treating oil sand ores having degraded bitumen. This can be done by considering the location from which the ore is mined or its history, or by microscopic examination of a bitumen froth made from the ore, or by near-infrared spectroscopy. Ore which contains degraded bitumen is treated with at least 0.05 wt/wt % alkaline material, preferably 0.1 wt./wt % of such alkaline material, in the water addition step of a hot or warm water extraction process for the making of bitumen froth, such as the Clark process.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying and treating oil sand ores having degraded bitumen. This can be done by considering the location from which the ore is mined or its history, or by microscopic examination of a bitumen froth made from the ore, or by near-infrared spectroscopy. Ore which contains degraded bitumen is treated with at least 0.05 wt/wt % alkaline material, preferably 0.1 wt./wt % of such alkaline material, in the water addition step of a hot or warm water extraction process for the making of bitumen froth, such as the Clark process.