Inventors:
Robert G. Reeves - Spring TX, US
Assignee:
Tatanium Corporation Inc. - Toronto
International Classification:
C10G 1/04
US Classification:
208390, 208252, 75365, 75430, 75435, 75958, 204 61, 204 64, 204 64 T, 204 67, 205560, 423522, 423541, 423541 R, 423567 R
Abstract:
A process for recovering heavy minerals (e. g. , titanium minerals such as TiO) from a feedstock comprising tar sands or a tar sands-derived solids fraction. The feedstock comprises bitumen and heavy minerals. The process comprises the steps of: (i) contacting the solids fraction with water at a temperature of at least about 100° F. to cause production a bituminous phase and a heavy minerals phase; and (ii) separating the heavy minerals phase from the bituminous phase. Optionally, these steps may be preceded by one or more steps used to produce a tar-sands derived solids fraction from a tar sands feedstock.