Abstract: A method of concentrating and/or producing lithium hydroxide in an evaporator entails feeding a stream comprising lithium, hydroxide and carbonate to the evaporator. In the evaporator, the feed is concentrated to form lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate crystals. Further, the method entails reducing the tendency of lithium carbonate to scale the evaporator by increasing the concentration of lithium carbonate crystals in the evaporator by: (1) clarifying at least a portion of the concentrate in the evaporator to form a clarified solution; and (2) discharging the clarified solution as a clarified solution stream from the evaporator.

Abstract: A method of concentrating and/or producing lithium hydroxide in an evaporator entails feeding a stream comprising lithium, hydroxide and carbonate to the evaporator. In the evaporator, the feed is concentrated to form lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate crystals. Further, the method entails reducing the tendency of lithium carbonate to scale the evaporator by increasing the concentration of lithium carbonate crystals in the evaporator by: (1) clarifying at least a portion of the concentrate in the evaporator to form a clarified solution; and (2) discharging the clarified solution as a clarified solution stream from the evaporator.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water resulting from an oil recovery operation. Produced water is subjected to a softening process wherein a caustic or other softening reagent is added to the produced water to increase the pH of the produced water. Downstream of softening, there is provided an evaporator for evaporating at least a portion of the produced water and producing steam and a concentrated brine. At least a portion of the concentrated brine is recycled upstream of the evaporator and mixed with the produced water and the softening reagent to enhance the softening process.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a ceramic membrane used in an oil recovery process. The cleaning method includes online and offline modes. In the online mode, the method includes periodically backflushing the ceramic membrane with an aqueous media. In the offline mode, the method includes backpulsing or statically cleaning the ceramic membrane by utilizing an aqueous alkaline media, an aqueous acidic media, and a liquid hydrocarbon solution.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating brine recovered from a coal seam gas operation. The process entails directing brine recovered from a coal seam gas operation to a mixed reactor and mixing an alkaline earth reagent with the brine. This results in the precipitation of alkaline earth salts and silica, which form alkaline earth salt crystals having silica adsorbed thereto. Thereafter, the alkaline earth salt crystals and adsorbed silica are directed to an evaporator that produces a concentrate having the alkaline earth salt crystals and adsorbed silica.

Abstract: Oil sands process water (OSPW) is directed to an evaporator that evaporates the OSPW and produces steam and a concentrated brine. The OSPW includes alkalinity and calcium hardness. To inhibit calcium carbonate scaling of the evaporator, magnesium oxide is mixed with the OSPW, resulting in the precipitation of magnesium hydroxide which acts as a seed material for calcium carbonate precipitation to prevent fouling. The process crystallizes the calcium carbonate and the mixture of magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate crystals are circulated through the evaporator as well as recirculated to a point upstream of the evaporator.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water resulting from an oil recovery operation. Produced water is subjected to a softening process wherein a caustic or other softening reagent is added to the produced water to increase the pH of the produced water. Downstream of softening, there is provided an evaporator for evaporating at least a portion of the produced water and producing steam and a concentrated brine. At least a portion of the concentrated brine is recycled upstream of the evaporator and mixed with the produced water and the softening reagent to enhance the softening process.

Abstract: A method of treating concentrated produced water derived from a steam assisted gravity discharge oil recovery process is described. The method includes utilizing a double drum dryer to dry a concentrated slurry and produce a dried concentrate for deposition in a landfill.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating brine recovered from a coal seam gas operation. The process entails directing brine recovered from a coal seam gas operation to a mixed reactor and mixing an alkaline earth reagent with the brine. This results in the precipitation of alkaline earth salts and silica, which form alkaline earth salt crystals having silica adsorbed thereto. Thereafter, the alkaline earth salt crystals and adsorbed silica are directed to an evaporator that produces a concentrate having the alkaline earth salt crystals and adsorbed silica.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from an oil well includes recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well and separating produced water from the oil-water mixture. Thereafter, the produced water is directed through a ceramic membrane that removes free oil and emulsified oil from the produced water. The method or process further includes cleaning the ceramic membrane in online and offline modes. In the offline mode, cleaning is achieved by periodically backflushing the ceramic membrane with an aqueous media having a pH of 13 or greater and a temperature of 60° C. or greater. Further, the ceramic membrane is cleaned in the offline mode by applying the following operations. In one or more clean-in-place operations, an aqueous alkaline media at a pH of 13 or higher and a temperature of 60° C. or higher is directed through the ceramic membrane. In one or more clean-in-place operations, the ceramic membrane is also cleaned with an aqueous acidic media that contains dissolved citric acid.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water recovered from an oil recovery process. An oil-water mixture is collected from an oil bearing formation. The oil-water mixture is directed to a separator that separates the oil-water mixture to yield produced water and an oil product. The produced water includes water, dissolved organics and dissolved inorganic solids. The produced water is directed to a crystallizer. In the crystallizer, the produced water is concentrated by heating the produced water. Concentrating the produced water causes the organic and inorganic solids to precipitate from the produced water and form solid crystals, including salt crystals. Further, concentrating the produced water in the crystallizer produces an organic melt including the solid crystals. Thereafter, the method or process entails cooling the organic melt such that the organic melt solidifies into an organic solid structure, and wherein substantially no free water is present in the organic solid structure.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water recovered from an oil recovery process. An oil-water mixture is collected from an oil bearing formation. The oil-water mixture is directed to a separator that separates the oil-water mixture to yield produced water and an oil product. The produced water includes water, dissolved organics and dissolved inorganic solids. The produced water is directed to a crystallizer. In the crystallizer, the produced water is concentrated by heating the produced water. Concentrating the produced water causes the organic and inorganic solids to precipitate from the produced water and form solid crystals, including salt crystals. Further, concentrating the produced water in the crystallizer produces an organic melt including the solid crystals. Thereafter, the method or process entails cooling the organic melt such that the organic melt solidifies into an organic solid structure, and wherein substantially no free water is present in the organic solid structure.

Abstract: A method for removing silica from evaporator concentrate to facilitate disposal of the concentrate. An alkaline earth compound is mixed with the concentrate in a crystallizer. Silica in the concentrate reacts with the alkaline earth compound and precipitates from the concentrate as alkaline silicate complexes. The concentrate having the alkaline earth silicate complexes is directed to a separator where the alkaline earth silicate complexes are separated from the concentrate, producing an aqueous solution and slurry. The slurry is directed to a filter where solids are separated from a filtrate. Both the aqueous solution and the filtrate can be disposed of by deep well injection.

Abstract: A method for removing silica from evaporator concentrate to facilitate disposal of the concentrate. An alkaline earth compound is mixed with the concentrate in a crystallizer. Silica in the concentrate reacts with the alkaline earth compound and precipitates from the concentrate as alkaline silicate complexes. The concentrate having the alkaline earth silicate complexes is directed to a separator where the alkaline earth silicate complexes are separated from the concentrate, producing an aqueous solution and slurry. The slurry is directed to a filter where solids are separated from a filtrate. Both the aqueous solution and the filtrate can be disposed of by deep well injection.