STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF ULTRASONIC TECHNOLOGY ON THE EXTRACTION OF BITUMEN FROM BITUMINOUS SANDS

Introduction. Nowadays there are few works in the country on obtaining targeted products from bituminous sands. Among them, scientific works on the method of separation using ultrasound irradiation can be classified as non-traditional technologies. This method has many advantages, in particular energy and water saving, high production in a short time and allows to create a mobile unit installation. Determining the necessary frequency and power depending on the research object of ultrasound technology are the main process parameters. The first scientific studies on the extraction of bitumen from bituminous sands using ultrasound have been carried out since the 1990s. The results of the work showed that in an alkaline solution ultrasonic cavitation of bituminous sands, the degree of bitumen extraction increases. The purpose of the work. To fill the deficit of bitumen in Kazakhstan, study the influence of ultrasonic technology on the extraction of bitumen from bituminous sands and determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the obtaining product. Research results. A distinctive feature of the bituminous sands chosen as the object of study is that the bituminous sands come to the surface and are located in open areas. Long-term exposure to the atmosphere led to the loss of light fractions, and the heavy components of bitumen were subjected to oxidation processes under the influence of various technogenic factors. These processes led to the formation of heavy oils and hard bitumens of complex composition. Visual analysis of a bituminous sands sample shows a rich black color with a bituminous sheen. As a result of the study of the influence of ultrasonic technology on the extraction of bitumen from bituminous sands the physical-chemical characteristics of obtained bitumen were studied. During the testing of this technology, the optimal parameters of the process were determined depending on the object of research. According to the results of the study, it was found that the clay compounds present in the bituminous sands have a direct impact on the process of determining the power of ultrasound. Conclusion. Ultrasound technology has been shown to be a promising and industrially applicable technology for extracting bitumen from bituminous sands.