A hot water extraction process for extracting bitumen from tar sands is taught using a conditioning agent containing an alkali metal bicarbonate and an alkali metal carbonate. A source of calcium and/or magnesium ions can also be added. The conditioning agent replaces the caustic soda agent previously...http://www.google.com.au/patents/US5770049?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5770049 - Tar sands extraction process
