Abstract: A method and a system for obtaining bitumen from tar sand are disclosed. The disclosed method can include two extraction steps, such as a first extraction step using a light aromatic solvent and a second extraction step using a volatile hydrocarbon solvent. The light aromatic solvent and the volatile hydrocarbon solvent both can be recycled and used in multiple extractions. Each extraction and recycling step can include a separation. The disclosed system can include separators configured to perform these separations. Some of these separators also can function as mixers. Using the disclosed method and system, it is possible to achieve a high degree of bitumen recovery while minimizing undesirable complications, such as swelling of clays in the tar sand and/or precipitation of asphaltenes.

Abstract: A process is provided for the selective recovery from an impure solution of pure nickel and cobalt solutions, suitable for electrolysis of the respective metals. The impure solution may be that obtained from acid leaching of nickel/cobalt bearing laterite or oxide ore. The impure solution is contacted with a solid ion exchange resin to selectively extract nickel and cobalt, while rejecting at least one element of the group manganese, magnesium, calcium, iron(II), and chromium(III). The ion exchange resin contains bis-picolyl amine as the primary chelating group. The impure solution has sufficiently low levels of chromium(VI) and copper to allow repeated use of the ion exchange resin. The metal-bearing resin is washed and then stripped with an acid solution. This solution is then contacted with a water-immiscible organic phase for the selective extraction of cobalt, leaving nickel in the raffinate as a substantially pure nickel solution.

Abstract: A process for the extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth generated from tar sands is presented. In this process bitumen froth, extracted from tar sands using a water process not requiring the use of caustic soda, is treated in a counter-current decantation circuit with a paraffinic solvent to remove precipitated asphaltenes, water, and solids from the bitumen froth. The instant invention produces a dilute bitumen product having final water and solids content of about 0.01 to about 1.00% by weight rendering the dilute bitumen product amenable to direct hydrocracking. This process provides an alternative route to the conventional process utilizing centrifuges to separate bitumen from precipitated asphaltenes, water, and solids thereby avoiding the high capital and operating costs associated with the conventional bitumen froth treatment by centrifugation.