Researchers at InnoTech Alberta have developed a chemical formulation and water treatment method that make it easier to remove residual oil from oilsands process water and water produced through steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD).
The technology addresses a longstanding challenge in industrial water treatment: dissolved hydrocarbons and oil drops smaller than 10 micrometres (usually considered as fine drops) are difficult to capture using conventional separation equipment, limiting water reuse and potentially damaging equipment.
This innovative approach could support greater water reuse, reduced treatment demands, improved residual bitumen recovery, and new opportunities for Alberta-developed clean technology in industrial water treatment markets.
Improving Recovery by up to 99 Per Cent
The formulation, which researchers began researching in 2018, brings together dissolved hydrocarbons and very fine oil drops to form larger drops that can be separated easily from water using conventional recovery methods.
“This breakthrough has the potential to change how process water from oilsands mining and SAGD operations is treated. We are opening the door to cleaner water and new oil recovery process that could benefit several industries having wastewater issues,” said Shad Siddiqui, a researcher with InnoTech Alberta.
The approach is designed to complement existing water-treatment systems by integrating into conventional mixing tanks or inline dosing, reducing the need for new infrastructure.
Laboratory testing delivered promising results. In synthetic emulsion testing, oil concentrations were reduced from approximately 8,000 parts per million (ppm) to about 10 ppm, with some outlier results falling below that threshold. Testing with representative SAGD emulsion and produced water showed reduced oil concentrations from roughly 5,700 ppm and 510 ppm to about 30 ppm and 10 ppm, respectively.
Flowing forward
With a US patent secured earlier in 2026, InnoTech is looking to build on those promising early-stage lab results to bring the water treatment method to market.
Siddiqui and his team have begun a techno-economic assessment to understand how the cost analysis balances against the chemical requirements, equipment costs and overall treatment performance. Results are anticipated in early 2027.
“We are optimistic that favourable results will pave the way for pilot-scale trials to validate the technology under industrial operating conditions,” Siddiqui says. “While significant work remains, this is a promising step toward developing a practical solution to a persistent industrial challenge.”
Want to learn more or participate in testing? Contact Shad Siddiqui at Shad.Siddiqui@innotechalberta.ca for more information.