DEMINERALIZATION OF PETROLEUM COKES AND FLY ASH SAMPLES OBTAINED FROM THE UPGRADING OF ATHABASCA OIL SANDS BITUMEN

Abstract
Ash reduction of the cokes and fly ash samples derived from the Athabasca oil sands bitumen was attempted by dissolving the mineral matter in acids. The samples used for this investigation included Syncrude fluid coking coke, Suncor delayed coking coke and the two fly ash samples obtained from the combustion of these cokes. All samples were analyzed for C,H,N,0 and S before and after acid demineralization and the analyses results compared. Further, the ash from the samples before and after acid demineralization was analyzed for silica, alumina, iron, titanium, nickel and vanadium to assess the acid leaching of these elements. CP/ MAS, 13C NMR spectroscopic study of the demineralized coke and fly ash samples was also attempted