Abstract: Deasphalted residual oil (DAO) and the aromatics-rich extract that is derived from DAO have low polycyclic aromatics contents, relatively low aniline points, and high flash points. They form blending stocks that improve properties of mixed feedstocks to consistently produce environmentally qualified rubber processing oil (RPO) by extraction under low solvent-to-oil ratios and moderate extraction temperatures. Distilling a petroleum crude oil under atmospheric pressure generates a bottom residual oil which is then subject to vacuum distillation to yield a bottom residual oil. DAO is produced by removing the asphalt from the vacuum bottom residual oil through extraction with light paraffinic solvent. The extract of DAO is a co-product in the production of the bright stock of the lubricating oil through extraction. The feedstock is mixed with the extract from a petroleum fraction boiling in lube oil range.

Abstract: A petroleum feedstock upgrading method is provided. The method includes supplying a mixed stream that includes hydrocarbon feedstock and water to a hydrothermal reactor where the mixed stream is maintained at a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperatures and pressure of water in the absence of catalyst for a residence time sufficient to convert the mixed stream into a modified stream having an increased concentration of lighter hydrocarbons and/or concentration of sulfur containing compounds. The modified stream is then supplied to an adsorptive reaction stage charged with a solid adsorbent operable to remove at least a portion of the sulfur present to produce a trimmed stream. The trimmed stream is then separated into a gas and a liquid streams, and the liquid stream is separated into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of testing oil extraction processes including the steps of: 1) placing a sample to be tested in a sample holder which has a configurable temperature profile; 2) placing the sample holder in a pressure vessel; 3) increasing the pressure in the pressure vessel to simulate an over burden pressure; 4) configuring the temperature profile of the sample holder to match a desired temperature profile; 5) applying an oil extraction process to the sample; 6) measuring one or more parameters of the oil extraction process; 7) measuring the temperature of the sample to which the process is being applied; 8) configuring the sample holder to match the measured temperature profile. A device to test oil extraction processes on samples is disclosed. The device has a temperature configurable sample holder having sufficient temperature control to provide a desired heat profile to the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process, including removal of resins, for the treatment of a hydrocarbon charge, at least 80% of the compounds of which have a boiling point which is above or equal to 340° C., in which process: the charge is sent to a fractionation stage during which the recovery takes place of at least one heavy fraction and at least one light fraction, at least some of the heavy fraction is sent to an extraction stage during which resins contained in said heavy fraction are extracted, and a purified fraction is recovered, a mixture is made which comprises at least part of the purified fraction which was obtained in the extraction stage and at least one light fraction which was obtained in the fractionation stage, and the mixture thus obtained is sent to a cracking stage.

Abstract: A continuous process for isolating butenes from a C4 fraction comprising butanes, butenes and other C3-C5-hydrocarbons by extractive distillation using a selective solvent (LM), comprising a first process stage I in a scrubbing zone (E) and a second process stage II in a degassing zone (A), wherein the liquid or a substream of the liquid is taken off from the degassing zone (A) at a theoretical plate located one or more theoretical plates below the feed point for the bottom stream (LM/C4H8) from the scrubbing zone (E), heated and/or vaporized by indirect heat exchange with the hot bottom stream (LM) from the degassing zone (A) and returned to the degassing zone (A) at the same theoretical plate or above this, with the theoretical plate from which the liquid or substream of liquid is taken off being selected so that the total energy requirement in the process stages I and II is minimized, is proposed.

Abstract: A process for the producing edible protein-containing meal for human and animal consumption and high quality food grade oils from oil seed using iodotrifluoromathane as the solvent is shown. The meal has a significantly improved level of dietary available (absorbable) protein. The process involves the preparation of protein isolates by a procedure which is conducted at room temperature, thus decreases protein degradation and denaturing which is caused by elevated temperatures. The process also provides for extraction of substantially all oils and fats, which interfere with the formation of the protein micelle, from the protein meal providing a cleaner, purer product with high levels of absorbable protein. Such protein isolates can then be used as such or added to formulated foods in order to increase the total protein content of that food. The protein produced and the oils recovered have compositions which are also unique and unobtainable by prior processing methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of extracting and concentrating oils from materials in which the oils are already dispersed. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with the extraction of fixed oils or mineral oils from materials using a process of solvent extraction which is performed under elevated pressure and temperature. The solvent medium may be HFC 134a alone, or HFC 134a in combination with a suitable co-solvent which can be determined in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A process for the production of a process oil, the process comprising: a) contacting a petroleum distillate with a polar solvent in an extraction column which operates with a bottom temperature of 30 to 80° C., b) withdrawing a primary raffinate from the column of step a), c) contacting the primary raffinate with a polar solvent in an extraction column which operates at a bottom temperature that is higher than the bottom temperature of the extraction column of step a), and in the range of 60 to 90° C., d) withdrawing a secondary extract from the column of step c), and e) removing said polar solvent from said secondary extract.

Abstract: A C4-hydrocarbon mixture essentially containing 1,3-butadiene, butenes, butanes and other C4-hydrocarbons is separated into at least 4 fractions, a) the fraction (a) essentially comprising 1,3-butadiene, b) the fraction (b) essentially comprising butenes, c) the fraction (c) essentially comprising butanes and d) one or more fractions (d) essentially comprising 1,3-butadiene and the other C4-hydrocarbons, by extractive distillation by means of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone or an aqueous solution of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP).

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an aqueous tar suspoemulsion by mixing a mixture including (a) a viscous tar composition formed from a tar, from inorganic solids and, optionally, from water, (b) water (W), (c) a surface-active agent (SA) exhibiting an HLB of at least 10 and, optionally, (d) a thickening water-soluble polymer (TWP) with a molecular mass of greater than 10,000, the relative amounts of constituents (W), (SA) and, optionally, (TWP) being such that the viscosity of the (W)+(SA)+optional (TWP) mixture is preferably equal to or greater than the viscosity of the said tar, and then optional dilution of the mixture obtained with water or with an aqueous acidic solution. The process is particularly advantageous when applied to to the residues, containing sulphuric acid, resulting from the synthesis of white oils from petroleum fractions. The present invention further relates to a method for fluidizing acidic tars/sludges including contacting the tar/sludge with sulfuric acid and a surfactant.

Abstract: A residuum oil solvent extraction process is improved by using direct fired convection heaters for heating the asphaltene, the solvent-deasphalted oil phase, the deasphalted oil and the stripping steam, instead of hot oil heat exchangers. The convection heaters are fired using recirculated flue gas so that the hot flue gas supplied to the convection heaters has a temperature between 800.degree. F. and 1400.degree. F.

Abstract: Thermal degradation of furfural in solvent refining of lubricating oil stocks is reduced by use of a thin-film evaporator for the final stages of furfural recovery, permitting increased pressure to be used in each stage of furfural recovery.

Abstract: A method for automated control of a petroleum distillation column in which signals representing temperatures, pressures and fluid flow rates for selected product streams withdrawn from the column are transmitted to a digital computer where, by means of a programmed algorithm, they are used to derive a true boiling point curve for the petroleum products of such product streams. The true boil point curve is then used to infer selected properties for the petroleum products which are compared with desired properties for the products of the monitored product streams and the differences between the inferred and desired properties are utilized to adjust automatically one or more of the operating parameters for the column so as to move the column's performance incrementally towards optimization.

Abstract: A lubricating oil stock is extracted with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone to yield a primary raffinate useful as a high VI lubricating base oil and a primary extract. The primary extract is mixed with antisolvent and chilled to yield a secondary raffinate. This secondary raffinate is sufficiently reduced in aromatics that it is suitable for fluidized catalytic cracking in the absence of hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process for the continuous extraction of mixtures of organic substances including high boiling point constituents and/or constituents which do not boil but which melt with at least one solvent in the supercritical state, selected from the group consisting of CO.sub.2, propane, butane, pentane, petroleum ether, water, and having a critical temperature, T.sub.k, and a critical pressure, P.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facile method of oil removal from an oil-water emulsion containing suspended solid particulates. In general, the method utilizes a volatile solvent which is liquefied under pressure and forms a two-phase system when in contact with the emulsion.

Abstract: In the solvent refining of a residual oil, a mixture of refined oil and refining solvent, and a mixture of pitch impurities and refining solvent are introduced into separate zones of a combination tower operated at a pressure of no greater than 100 psig to recover refining solvent from each of the mixtures. The combination tower is preferably A modified crude distillation tower from a preexisting crude unit, whereby idle crude units may be converted to solvent refining.

Abstract: A process for multi-solvent extraction is provided wherein polarity gradients induced by distillation are utilized for the extraction of petroleum residua and other heavy oils whereby a high quality maltenic fraction and a lower quality asphaltenic fraction are obtained.

Abstract: An improved method for deasphalting residua or heavy oils comprises the use of at least two solvents in an extraction column to establish a liquid polarity gradient within it.

Abstract: Lubricating oils suitable for use in refrigeration equipment in admixture with fluorinated hydrocarbon refrigerants are produced by solvent extraction of naphthenic lubricating oil base stocks, cooling the resulting extract mixture, optionally with the addition of a solvent modifier, to form a secondary raffinate and a secondary extract, and recovering a dewaxed oil fraction of lowered pour point from the secondary raffinate as a refrigeration oil product.The process of the invention obviates the need for a separate dewaxing operation, such as dewaxing with urea, as conventionally employed for the production of refrigeration oils.