Extraction of hydrocarbons from oil sand using supercritical carbon dioxid

• Author / Creator

  Fang, Yi

• This study investigates the extraction of hydrocarbons from oil sand using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2). Experiments were carried out on three different types of oil sands. After some preliminary experiments, the feasibility of extracting hydrocarbons from oil sands by SC CO2 was confirmed and three experimental factors (pressure, temperature and mixing rate) were identified for further study. A two to the three factorial design was used to determine the significance of each factor and the significance of the interaction of the factors on the extraction efficiency. The extraction efficiency was calculated from Dean-Stark extraction analysis and was compared to the extraction efficiency based on gravimetric analysis. The results show that the extraction efficiency increased with pressure at a constant temperature. The effect of temperature on extraction efficiency is complex. The highest extraction efficiency was obtained at the high pressure (24.1MPa), high temperature (60°C) and a mixing rate of 250rpm.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Oil sands
  • Supercritical carbon dioxid
  • Dean-Stark extraction
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Supercritical fluid extraction

• Graduation date

  Fall 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3TH1V

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.