Prediction of bitumen content in oil sand based on FT-IR measurement

FT-IR spectra of bitumen are utilized to propose simple prediction method of bitumen content in oil sand. Analysis and fractionation of Athabasca oil sand were carried out by standard method. A fraction of bitumen dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) was 9.1 wt% and insoluble fraction was found as concomitantly clean clay (sand). The asphaltene fraction of oil sand was 1.42 wt%, which has higher sulfur content and lower H/C molar ratio than that of maltene. The clean clay and bitumen were used to prepare clay/bitumen composites. FT-IR spectra of different clay/bitumen composite were measured and compared. From analysis of the absorbance data, the empirical equation to predict bitumen content in oil sand was acquired using linear least square fitting. Using this equation, bitumen content of Athabasca oil sand was predicted to have a value of 10.5 wt% which is similar to 9.1 wt% of bitumen content extracted by THF solvent from oil sand.