Understanding long-term dewatering behavior of oil sands tailings is significant to the success and optimization of tailings reclamation plans. Long-term dewatering of tailings is somewhat complex due to mechanical creep, structuration drove by electrochemical forces between clay particle and other potential mechanisms such as cementation. To modernize conceptual models of tailings dewatering, the fabric evolution of tailings over months has been studied using low vacuum SEM as well as optical microscopy methods.Morphological information is extracted from different images using a sequence of image processing techniques, designed by trial and error to produce repeatable information for the studied material, flocculated fluid fine tailings (FFT). The designed image processing method produces binary images defining pore-space and solid particles (solid grains or flocs). The binary images are then analyzed using a software, primarily "Fiji-Image J"for quantitative analysis of the image for tends in pore and particle size distributions. The samples that were imaged were obtained from amended FFT dewatering experiments, comprising many replicates of 0.10 m high columns that were sampled over months. The tailings were dosed with a high molecular anionic polymer at two doses (600 and 800 ppm polymer per dry tailings). Columns either had one way or two-way drainage. Repeatable trends were found for all samples for both image processing techniques. The most dramatic observation was the increase in floc size over 48 hours using optical microscopy.iii DedicationThe thesis is dedicated to my wonderful parents, Retd. Prof.
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