Polymer flotation and activated carbon adsorption treatment for in situ tar sand process water

Abstract

AbstractProcess waters collected during a Department of Energy's in situ tar sand extraction experiment near Vernal, Utah were treated by polymer assisted induced air flotation and activated carbon adsorption. The flotation process removed over 99 percent of the organic load as emulsified bitumen but did little to reduce residual toxicity in the effluents. Activated carbon adsorption was needed to remove the toxic materials from the waste stream.GC/MS analysis, using a modification of the EPA Method 625, yielded an estimated 2000 compounds in the untreated process water. Internal and recovery standards present at 10 ppm were totally obscured in the chromatogram. Flotation effluents contained 39 identified organic compounds; none of which was listed on EPA's hazardous chemicals list. Internal and recovery standards were immediately visible in the chromatogram. The GC/MS analysis was unable to determine the chemical basis for the toxic properties present.