Abstract
This study investigated the feasibility of using trickle-freeze separation as an alternative method of reducing the salinity of oil sands process water. Using a specially designed flume housed in a cold room, an experiment was conducted to determine the degree of separation and subsequent concentration of salts during freezing and melting of saline water. During the freeze – thaw cycle, the majority of salts were concentrated into less than one quarter of the original frozen volume. Utilizing results from the laboratory-scale experiments, a trickle-freeze separation system was designed to treat 20 million m3/year of saline process water. The capital investment for construction of the system was Can$127 million or Can$6.36/m3 capacity, slightly higher than for a conventional desalination processes. Annual operating costs of Can$0.13/m3 of waste water are significantly lower than for conventional desalination. The design and cost estimate provided insight into the feasibility of using trickle-freeze separation as a treatment option for oil sands process water.
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