Diluted Bitumen: Physicochemical Properties, Weathering Processes, Emergency Response, and Recovery

Bitumen, an unconventional crude oil, has received much attention with the increasing consumption and shrinking storage of conventional oils. Bitumen is highly viscous and, thus, commonly diluted for transportation purposes. Spills bitumen could occur during from reservoirs to refineries via pipeline, rail, marine vessels. Although some laboratory numerical modeling studies have been contributed study spill different aspects, there no systematic review in field yet. Therefore, this first conducted a on types based their physicochemical properties, followed by weathering processes including spreading, evaporation, emulsification, photooxidation, biodegradation, sinking. Second, fate behavior spilled was summarized analyzed. Finally, techniques oil recovery were discussed, as well disposal/treatment oily waste. Currently, rare attempt made turn recovered waste into wealth (reutilization/valorization waste). Using feedstock/processing medium emerging thermochemical conversion technique (hydrothermal liquefaction biomass bio-oil production) recommended. Overall, article state-of-the-art knowledge bitumen, hope create deep understanding researchers, relevant companies, decision makers.