1. Oil Sands ―lab preparation Information (in words and photos) for teachers and/or lab-techs for oil sands labs.

2. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation2 Oil Sands Investigations These bitumen from oil sands investigations have been prepared by teachers with the assistance of the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation (COSI) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta. The program is administered for Alberta Ingenuity by the Centre for Mathematics Science and Technology Education (CMASTE) in the Faculty of Education at the U of A.

3. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation3 The Story of Bitumen from Oil Sands The photo at the right is of a display of oil sands, bitumen, synthetic crude, coke, sulfur and sand. Mining leads to extraction of bitumen from oil sands, upgrading of bitumen to synthetic crude, and refining of synthetic crude into components like gasoline (see flowchart).

4. Inside Education A1: oil sands mine (< 75 m) overburden stripper oil sands shovel oil sands truck B1: bitumen extraction unit hydrotransport separation tanks naphtha dilution system centrifuge B2: insitu extraction of bitumen unit (e.g., SAGD) C1: vacuum distillation unit D1: cracking unit (coker) E1: distillation unit (e.g., gas, naphtha, kerosene & gas oil) F1: hydrotreaters G1: synthetic crude blender F1.2.1: Claus converter Oil Sands to Synthetic Crude Oil (4) Upgrading of bitumen to synthetic crude oil Extraction of bitumen from oil sands H 2 S(g) H1: refinery further cracking and distillation pipe(line) F: H 2 (g) generator bitumen dilbit C1.3: naphtha recycle system naphtha S 8 (l) C(s) H 2 (g) NH 3 (g) B1.1: tailings pond cokesulfur ammonia oil F1.2: amine scrubber H 2 S(g) sour gas water sand gasoline, diesel, etc. steam CH 4 (g) NH 3 (g)

5. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation5 Genesis of School Lab Idea The idea for these investigations in vials came serendipitously when visiting the Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray. The spontaneous reheating of a vial that showed the extraction of bitumen from oil sands worked—again and again. This eventually led to the creation of the investigations described herein—studying variables that affect bitumen extraction. Reheated vial

6. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation6 First Perturbation Another effort that has proven fruitful is the use of canning jars to demonstrate bitumen extraction and solubility. The jars are more available and provide a larger demonstration model. However, be careful about placing flammable solvent in glass jars—plastic is better. Plastic is not better for bitumen extraction from oil sand—it sticks to the plastic sides. Likewise glass beakers are better than plastic.

7. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation7 Research Program & Projects: Variables Affecting Bitumen Extraction Research Projects 1. temperature 2. quantity of air 3. pH 4. Ca2+(aq) concentration 5. quality of oil sands

8. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation8 Design, Materials and Procedure Design: Manipulate one variable; control all other variables (e.g., temp., pH, and air) Materials: glass vials, oil sands, water, air, NaOH(aq), CaCl 2 (aq), etc. Procedure: Prepare vial with oil sands, water and air. Adjust temperature or pH. Observe and measure the effect. (Students write Design and Materials from Procedure.)

9. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation9 Preparing oil sand samples Placing the frozen oil sand into vials is time consuming. Add about 3 cm—to a mark on the vial. Place on a balance that is tared and adjust for a controlled mass of oil sand. oil sand in refrigerator sticky oil sand

10. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation10 1. For temperature manipulation Prepare three identical vials with a pH of 9. Add pH 9 (NaOH(aq)) solution to 7 cm mark on each vial. Screw the top on tight and/or glue it shut.

11. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation11 2. pH manipulation Prepare three vials with 3 cm of oil sands (adjusted to an equal mass on a balance). Add pure water to one vial for a pH of 7. Add pH 9 solution to the second vial. Add pH 11 solution to the third vial.

12. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation12 3. Adjust the quantity of air Prepare three vials with 3 cm of oil sand (adjusted to an equal mass on a balance). Add pH 9 solution to each vial while leaving air equal in height to 6 cm, 3 cm and 0 cm of air.

13. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation13 4. Adjust [Ca 2+ (aq)]. Prepare three vials with 3 cm of oil sand (adjusted to an equal mass on a balance). Add pH 9 solution (adjusted for [CalCl 2 (aq)]) to each vial while leaving air equal in height to 4 cm of air—3 cm oil sand, 4 cm of solution & 4 cm air. 0 mmol/L 1.0 mmol/L 10 mmol/L Ca 2+ (aq) concentration in a pH 9 solution

14. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation14 5. Adjust the quality of oil sand The quality of oil being mined is variable; e.g., with concentration of bitumen and Ca 2+. Dried out rich oil sand can be used to simulate lean oil sand. There is no need to order lean oil sand—just dry out some rich oil sand.

15. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation15 Some Procedures heating samples on a hot plate keeping temperature for 5 min preparing to shake hot vial for 1 min

16. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation16 Research Program/Team This series of investigations is aimed at improving the extraction of bitumen from oil sands—especially to reduce energy and water usage and environmental impact. A research team is described in another COSI lesson—see which.

17. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation17 Other COSI Lessons/Materials research team description researcher profiles careers in OS redox chemistry acid-base chemistry thermochemistry organic chemistry curriculum connections concept organizer (flow chart for extraction & upgrading) a kitchen table narrative (an STS issue lesson) pro and con perspectives teacher’s resource for every lesson sample lab reports PowerPoint lessons and photos

18. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation18 Partners in Oil Sands Education Inside Education OS Lessons oil sands kit oil sands poster oil sands issues oil sands DVD c/w exercises assessment bank concept organizer for bitumen extraction and upgrading Boreal-Northwest Equip. Supplier raw oil sands kits; possibly as described herein

19. Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Oil Sands Innovation19 Acknowledgements Alberta Ingenuity (Sandra Robertson) Andree Koenig (demo) Cam McGregor Pam Seager Dr. Zhenghe Xu Dr. Steve Kuznicki Dr. Murray Gray COSI staff: Centre for Oil Sands Innnovation