Abstract: To optimize recovery by the hot water process of hydrocarbons from bituminous sands, an alkaline process aid (e.g. NaOH) is commonly added to the conditioning step. In accordance with this invention, the quantity of process aid added is varied in response to the fines content of the incoming bituminous sands feed.

Abstract: An aqueous solution suspension or emulsion containing a water-soluble or oil-soluble non-ionic emulsifying agent is useful, when spread over the load-bearing surface of a conveyor carrying bituminous sands, to act as a release agent to promote the clean separation of the tacky sands from the belt when the latter rounds the end roller of the conveyor system and unloads the sands.

Abstract: A process for treating a conveyor belt carrying bituminous sands with a release agent comprises: applying to the sands-bearing surface of the belt, prior to deposition of the bituminous sands, a water-based emulsion having as the disperse phase a silicone fluid having short hydroxyl-terminated polymer chains and a viscosity on the order of 100 centistokes; unloading the sands from the belt; and recovering the bitumen from the sands using a hot water extraction step. The emulsion acts as a release agent which effects clean separation of the sands from the belt surface during unloading and does not deleteriously affect the primary bitumen recovery in the extraction step.

Abstract: An emulsion of bitumen in sodium hydroxide solution containing at least 1 wt. % bitumen as the disperse phase is useful, when spread over the load-bearing surface of a conveyor carrying bituminous sands, to act as a release agent to promote the clean separation of the tacky sands from the belt when the latter rounds the end roller of the conveyor system and unloads the sands.