Consolidation and permeability of flocculated kaolinite sediment

Vast oil sand resources are located in the province of Alberta, Canada, where water-based oil sands extraction operations are found including extraction and separation of the bitumen from the clay, sand, and water. The production of each barrel of synthetic crude oil (SCO) requires 2 m3 of processed water and generates 1.8 tonnes of solid tailings[1]. While coarse solids (sands) settle quickly to form beaches along the tailings pond, the fines (mainly silts and clays) take a much longer time to settle. Kaolinite is a major clay mineral found in oil sand tailings and organic polymers have been used to flocculate kaolinite to enhance the dewatering rate and sediment compaction.