Abstract: A cation exchange membrane includes a film of fluorinated ionomer containing sulfonate groups. The film has a machine direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the machine direction. The membrane has a water swell in both the machine direction and the transverse direction of less than about 5%. The membrane has a ratio of in-plane conductivity in the machine direction to in-plane conductivity in the transverse direction of about 0.9 to about 1.1. A process makes a cation exchange membrane including a film of fluorinated ionomer containing sulfonate groups. The process includes forming a film of the ionomer. The process also includes biaxially stretching the film in both a machine direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the machine direction. An electrochemical cell has anode and cathode compartments and includes a cation exchange membrane as a separator between the anode and cathode compartments.

Abstract: A process for the extraction and recovery of bitumen from oil sands using deionized silicate solutions. Bitumen is recovered in a process comprising contacting a deionized silicate solution with an ore sand oil to produce a froth comprising bitumen and a tailings stream comprising water, sand and clay fines and optionally unrecovered bitumen. Preferably the tailings stream is dewatered and recovered water may be recycled to the extraction process.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprising water, solids, and optionally polyacrylamide. The process involves (a) contacting the tailings stream with a silicate source for a pre-determined period of time to form a mixture; b) after a pre-determined period of time of at least 5 minutes, contacting the mixture with an activator to initiate gel formation, wherein the gel entraps the solids within the gel; and c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify; wherein the gel formation is delayed compared with a non-delayed process.

Abstract: A process for the treating a mature fine tailings stream is provided. Treatment comprises contacting an alkali metal silicate or polysilicate microgel and an activator with mature fine tailings, entrapping the sand and clay fines within a polysilicate microgel, spreading the silica microgel over a surface, and allowing the silica microgel to dry, and producing a trafficable surface.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a process for treating a tailings stream comprising water, solids, and optionally polyacrylamide. The process involves (a) contacting the tailings stream with a silicate source for a pre-determined period of time to form a mixture; b) after the pre-determined period of time, contacting the mixture with an activator to initiate gel formation, wherein the gel entraps the solids within the gel; and c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify; wherein the gel formation is delayed compared with a non-delayed process.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a process for treating a tailings stream comprising water and solids. The process involves (a) contacting a gelling agent and an activator with the tailings stream, (b) entrapping the solids within a gel produced from the gelling agent, and (c) depositing the gel into a liquid. This disclosure also relates to a process for treating a tailings stream comprising water and solids beneath a liquid surface. The process involves (a) contacting a gelling agent and an activator with the tailings stream beneath the liquid surface, (b) entrapping the solids within a gel produced from the gelling agent.

Abstract: A process for the extraction and recovery of bitumen from oil sands using deionized silicate solutions. Bitumen is recovered in a process comprising contacting a deionized silicate solution with an ore sand oil to produce a froth comprising bitumen and a tailings stream comprising water, sand and clay fines and optionally unrecovered bitumen. Preferably the tailings stream is dewatered and recovered water may be recycled to the extraction process.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting (1) a gelling agent and (2) an activator with said tailings stream to produce a gel; (b) entrapping solids including sand and clay, and other solid particles with the gel; and (c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify to produce a trafficable deposit; wherein the tailings stream comprises water and solids, which solids comprise sand, clay and other solids particles, and wherein 5% by volume to 100% by volume of the solids have a particle size less than 0.05 mm, based on the total volume of the solids. The process may further comprises spreading the gel produced in step (a) or the trafficable deposit produced in step (c) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.

Abstract: A process for the treating a mature fine tailings stream is provided. Treatment comprises contacting an alkali metal silicate or polysilicate microgel and an activator with mature fine tailings, entrapping the sand and clay fines within a polysilicate microgel, spreading the silica microgel over a surface, and allowing the silica microgel to dry, and producing a trafficable surface.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting a deionized silicate solution with a tailings stream whereby the solids are entrapped within a gel produced from the silicate solution; and (b) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify. The process may further comprise spreading the gel produced in step (a) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.

Abstract: A process for the treating a mature fine tailings stream is provided. Treatment comprises contacting an alkali metal silicate or polysilicate microgel and an activator with mature fine tailings, entrapping the sand and clay fines within a polysilicate microgel, spreading the silica microgel over a surface, and allowing the silica microgel to dry, and producing a trafficable surface.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting (1) a gelling agent and (2) an activator with said tailings stream to produce a gel; (b)entrapping solids including sand and clay, and other solid particles with the gel; and (c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify to produce a trafficable deposit; wherein the tailings stream comprises water and solids, which solids comprise sand, clay and other solids particles, and wherein 5% by volume to 100% by volume of the solids have a particle size less than 0.05 mm, based on the total volume of the solids. The process may further comprises spreading the gel produced in step (a) or the trafficable deposit produced in step (c) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting (1) a gelling agent and (2) an activator with said tailings stream to produce a gel; (b) entrapping solids including sand and clay, and other solid particles with the gel; and (c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify to produce a trafficable deposit; wherein the tailings stream comprises water and solids, which solids comprise sand, clay and other solids particles, and wherein 5% by volume to 100% by volume of the solids have a particle size less than 0.05 mm, based on the total volume of the solids. The process may further comprises spreading the gel produced in step (a) or the trafficable deposit produced in step (c) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting a deionized silicate solution with a tailings stream whereby the solids are entrapped within a gel produced from the silicate solution; and (b) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify. The process may further comprise spreading the gel produced in step (a) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reducing chill haze in a protein containing liquid (especially beverages resulting from fermentation such as beer and wine) by contacting the liquid with silica microgels having an average microgel diameter of at least 18 nm, more preferably at least 45 nm, and most preferably at least 70 nm. It has now been discovered that microgels having an average microgel diameter of less than about 18 nm do not adequately reduce chill haze of a protein containing liquid. In particular, while microgels having an average microgel diameter of less than about 18 nm cause the coagulation of haze-forming components, these components remain suspended in liquid and continue to cause haze despite allowing the liquid to settle for long periods of time.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a tailings stream is provided. The tailings stream comprises water, sand and clay fines and is produced from bitumen extraction process of an oil sands ore. The process for treating the tailings stream comprises contacting a polysilicate microgel, a polyacrylamide and one or both of a multivalent metal compound and a low molecular weight cationic organic polymer with a tailings stream to flocculate sand and clay fines.

Abstract: A process for the extraction and recovery of bitumen from oil sands and a process for the treatment of tailings are disclosed. Bitumen is recovered in a process comprising contacting a polysilicate microgel with an ore sand oil to produce a froth comprising bitumen and a tailings stream comprising water, sand and clay fines. Preferably the tailings stream is dewatered and recovered water may be recycled to the extraction process. Polysilicate microgel may be carried through to a dewatering step and enhances flocculation in dewatering said tailings.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting (1) a gelling agent and (2) an activator with said tailings stream to produce a gel; (b) entrapping solids including sand and clay, and other solid particles with the gel; and (c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify to produce a trafficable deposit; wherein the tailings stream comprises water and solids, which solids comprise sand, clay and other solids particles, and wherein 5% by volume to 100% by volume of the solids have a particle size less than 0.05 mm, based on the total volume of the solids. The process may further comprises spreading the gel produced in step (a) or the trafficable deposit produced in step (c) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.

Abstract: A composition and its use as a mold release composition are disclosed. The composition comprises a fluorotelomer, which comprises repeat units derived from a fluoroalkene, and optionally a comonomer, and has an endgroup derived from an alcohol, an alcohol derivative, or a combination thereof, and said fluorotelomer has or comprises a structure depicted as H(CX2)pBqDr or a mixture of structures depicted as H(CX2)pBq and H(CX2)pDr, wherein each X is independently H or F, provided at least one X is F, p is a number from about 16 to about 1500, B represents a unit derived from a hydrofluorocarbon, q is a number from 0.02 to 0.4, D represents an endgroup derived from said alcohol, alcohol derivative, or combination thereof, and r is a number 0.2 to 1.0.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a tailings stream is provided. The tailings stream comprises water, sand and clay fines and is produced from bitumen extraction process of an oil sands ore. The process for treating the tailings stream comprises contacting a polysilicate microgel, a polyacrylamide and one or both of a multivalent metal compound and a low molecular weight cationic organic polymer with a tailings stream to flocculate sand and clay fines.