High-efficiency separation of oil sands using ChCl-based deep eutectic solvents

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a kind of potential lixiviant for extraction processing. Unlike conventional ionic liquids (ILs), DESs are relatively cheap and environmentally friendly. Herein, three different ChCl-based DESs, namely, choline chloride/urea, choline chloride/ethylene glycol, as well as choline chloride/propandioic acid, were synthesized and used to enhance bitumen recovery from oil sand by petroleum ether extraction. The results showed a multiphase system formed after mixing the components at ~25°C, consisting of sands and clays, a DES layer, and a petroleum ether layer containing the bitumen. These DESs were immiscible with bitumen or petroleum ether. Coupled with a density difference, a clear phase separation was presented between the bitumen–petroleum ether mixture and DES. The DES functioned as a separating agent, keeping the petroleum ether–bitumen mixture and spent sand apart from each other. The results showed that the bitumen recovery was increased by ~12% compared with that without the DESs. We deduced that the enhancement in the separation may result from the reduction of adhesion between bitumen and sand by the DESs. The ChCl-based DESs and petroleum ether could be readily recycled to reduce industrial costs. After 10 cycles, the bitumen recovery remained above 86%.