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Oil Sands ― lab preparation

Get ready for oil sands labs with lab-preparation information, photos, and guidance for teachers and lab-techs. Explore the story of bitumen from oil sands and delve into investigations on variables affecting extraction. Discover design, materials, and procedures for effective experiments.

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Oil Sands ― lab preparation

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  1. Oil Sands―lab preparation Information (in words and photos) for teachers and/or lab-techs for oil sands labs.

  2. Oil Sands Investigations • These bitumen from oil sands investigations have been prepared by teachers with the assistance of the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation (COSI) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta. • The program is administered for Alberta Ingenuity by the Centre for Mathematics Science and Technology Education (CMASTE) in the Faculty of Education at the U of A. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  3. The Story of Bitumen from Oil Sands • The photo at the right is of a display of oil sands, bitumen, synthetic crude, coke, sulfur and sand. • Mining leads to extraction of bitumen from oil sands, upgrading of bitumen to synthetic crude, and refining of synthetic crude into components like gasoline (see flowchart). Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  4. Oil Sands to Synthetic Crude Oil (4) • A1: oil sands mine (< 75 m) • overburden stripper • oil sands shovel • oil sands truck • B1: bitumen extraction unit • hydrotransport • separation tanks • naphtha dilution system • centrifuge oil B1.1: tailings pond water sand Extraction of bitumen from oil sands steam B2: insitu extraction of bitumen unit (e.g., SAGD) dilbit dilbit C1: vacuum distillation unit C1.3: naphtha recycle system Upgrading of bitumen to synthetic crude oil naphtha CH4(g) F: H2(g) generator bitumen H2(g) E1: distillation unit (e.g., gas, naphtha, kerosene & gas oil) G1: synthetic crude blender D1: cracking unit (coker) F1: hydrotreaters H2S(g) NH3(g) sourgas pipe(line) C(s) H1: refinery further cracking and distillation F1.2.1: Claus converter F1.2: amine scrubber coke sulfur S8(l) H2S(g) NH3(g) Inside Education ammonia gasoline, diesel, etc.

  5. Genesis of School Lab Idea The idea for these investigations in vials came serendipitously when visiting the Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray. The spontaneous reheating of a vial that showed the extraction of bitumen from oil sands worked—again and again. This eventually led to the creation of the investigations described herein—studying variables that affect bitumen extraction. Reheated vial Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  6. First Perturbation Another effort that has proven fruitful is the use of canning jars to demonstrate bitumen extraction and solubility. The jars are more available and provide a larger demonstration model. However, be careful about placing flammable solvent in glass jars—plastic is better. Plastic is not better for bitumen extraction from oil sand—it sticks to the plastic sides. Likewise glass beakers are better than plastic. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  7. Research Program & Projects: Variables Affecting Bitumen Extraction Research Projects • temperature • quantity of air • pH • Ca2+(aq) concentration • quality of oil sands Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  8. Design, Materials and Procedure • Design: Manipulate one variable; control all other variables (e.g., temp., pH, and air) • Materials: glass vials, oil sands, water, air, NaOH(aq), CaCl2(aq), etc. • Procedure: Prepare vial with oil sands, water and air. Adjust temperature or pH. Observe and measure the effect. (Students write Design and Materials from Procedure.) Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  9. Preparing oil sand samples • Placing the frozen oil sand into vials is time consuming. • Add about 3 cm—to a mark on the vial. • Place on a balance that is tared and adjust for a controlled mass of oil sand. oil sand in refrigerator sticky oil sand Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  10. 1. For temperature manipulation • Prepare three identical vials with a pH of 9. • Add pH 9 (NaOH(aq)) solution to 7 cm mark on each vial. • Screw the top on tight and/or glue it shut. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  11. 2. pH manipulation • Prepare three vials with 3 cm of oil sands (adjusted to an equal mass on a balance). • Add pure water to one vial for a pH of 7. • Add pH 9 solution to the second vial. • Add pH 11 solution to the third vial. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  12. 3. Adjust the quantity of air • Prepare three vials with 3 cm of oil sand (adjusted to an equal mass on a balance). • Add pH 9 solution to each vial while leaving air equal in height to 6 cm, 3 cm and 0 cm of air. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  13. 4. Adjust [Ca2+(aq)]. • Prepare three vials with 3 cm of oil sand (adjusted to an equal mass on a balance). • Add pH 9 solution (adjusted for [CalCl2(aq)]) to each vial while leaving air equal in height to 4 cm of air—3 cm oil sand, 4 cm of solution & 4 cm air. 0 mmol/L 1.0 mmol/L 10 mmol/L Ca2+(aq) concentration in a pH 9 solution Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  14. 5. Adjust the quality of oil sand • The quality of oil being mined is variable; e.g., with concentration of bitumen and Ca2+. • Dried out rich oil sand can be used to simulate lean oil sand. There is no need to order lean oil sand—just dry out some rich oil sand. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  15. Some Procedures preparing to shake hot vial for 1 min heating samples on a hot plate keeping temperature for 5 min Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  16. Research Program/Team • This series of investigations is aimed at improving the extraction of bitumen from oil sands—especially to reduce energy and water usage and environmental impact. • A research team is described in another COSI lesson—see which. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  17. research team description researcher profiles careers in OS redox chemistry acid-base chemistry thermochemistry organic chemistry curriculum connections concept organizer (flow chart for extraction & upgrading) a kitchen table narrative (an STS issue lesson) pro and con perspectives teacher’s resource for every lesson sample lab reports PowerPoint lessons and photos Other COSI Lessons/Materials Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  18. Inside Education OS Lessons oil sands kit oil sands poster oil sands issues oil sands DVD c/w exercises assessment bank concept organizer for bitumen extraction and upgrading Boreal-Northwest Equip. Supplier raw oil sands kits; possibly as described herein Partners in Oil Sands Education Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

  19. Acknowledgements • Alberta Ingenuity (Sandra Robertson) • Andree Koenig (demo) • Cam McGregor • Pam Seager • Dr. Zhenghe Xu • Dr. Steve Kuznicki • Dr. Murray Gray • COSI staff: Centre for Oil Sands Innnovation Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation

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