Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from bituminous material. In some embodiments, the method may include loading a bitumen material in a column, followed by feeding a first quantity of solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting the bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column. A quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent may then be fed into the column. In some embodiments, the method may include simultaneously loading bitumen material and a solvent in a column, followed by feeding additional solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column, and feeding a quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent into the column.

Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material includes the steps of providing a first liquid comprising a turpentine liquid; contacting the hydrocarbon-containing material with the turpentine liquid to form an extraction mixture; extracting the hydrocarbon material into the turpentine liquid; and separating the extracted hydrocarbon material from a residual material not extracted.

Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from bituminous material. In some embodiments, the method may include loading a bitumen material in a column, followed by feeding a first quantity of first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting the bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column. A quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent may then be fed into the column. In some embodiments, the method may include simultaneously loading bitumen material and a first solvent in a column, followed by feeding additional first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column, and feeding a quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent into the column.

Abstract: A method for processing froth treatment tailings, including separating the froth treatment tailings in order to produce a coarse mineral material fraction and a fine mineral material fraction therefrom, subjecting the coarse mineral material fraction to froth flotation in order to produce a heavy mineral concentrate and a coarse mineral material tailings therefrom, and subjecting the heavy mineral concentrate to solvent extraction in order to produce a debitumenized heavy mineral concentrate and a bitumen extract therefrom.

Abstract: A process and composition for removing heavy oil and bitumen from oil sands is disclosed. The composition comprises an emulsion of d-limonene in water, with an optional anionic surfactant as an emulsifying agent. The emulsion is contacted with an oil sand slurry until the aqueous and hydrocarbon phases separate. The process may take place at temperatures less than about 80° C. and with low concentrations of the d-limonene.

Abstract: A process for treating bitumen froth with paraffinic solvent is provided which uses three stages of separation. Froth and a first solvent are directed to a first stage at a solvent/bitumen ratio for precipitating few or substantially no asphaltenes. A first stage underflow is directed to a second stage and a first stage overflow is directed to a third stage. A second stage underflow is directed to waste tailings and the second stage overflow joins the first stage overflow. A third stage underflow is recovered as an asphaltene by-product and a third stage overflow is recovered as a diluted bitumen product. At least a second solvent is added to one or both of the second or third stages for controlling a fraction of asphaltenes in the third stage underflow. Asphaltene loss to waste tailings is minimized and asphaltenes are now recovered as asphaltene by-product.

Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material includes the steps of providing a first liquid comprising a turpentine liquid; contacting the hydrocarbon-containing material with the turpentine liquid to form an extraction mixture; extracting the hydrocarbon material into the turpentine liquid; and separating the extracted hydrocarbon material from a residual material not extracted.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and a system for recovering energy, materials or both from asphaltene-containing tailings are disclosed. The asphaltene-containing tailings can be generated, for example, from a process for recovering hydrocarbons from oil sand. Embodiments of the method can include a flotation separation and a hydrophobic agglomeration separation. Flotation can be used to separate the asphaltene-containing tailings into an asphaltene-rich froth and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase. The asphaltene-rich froth, or an asphaltene-rich slurry formed from the asphaltene-rich froth, then can be separated into a heavy mineral concentrate and a light tailings. Hydrophobic agglomeration can be used to recover an asphaltene concentrate from the light tailings. Another flotation separation can be included to remove sulfur-containing minerals from the heavy mineral concentrate. Oxygen-containing minerals also can be recovered from the heavy mineral concentrate.

Abstract: A process for producing paraffin extracted clarified slurry oil (raffinate) with improved aromaticity from the feed stock such as clarified slurry oil (CSO) is provided. The obtained paraffin extracted clarified slurry oil with improved aromaticity is suitable for a variety of industrial applications. For example, it can be used as a valuable feedstock for producing carbon black.

Abstract: In solvent-assisted bitumen extraction, a native marker, for example: sulfur, nickel, vanadium, iron copper, or manganese, is used to control the solvent to bitumen ratio in a process stream such as a stream from a froth separation unit (FSU) and/or to measure hydrocarbon loss in a tailings solvent recovery unit (TSRU).

Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material includes the steps of providing a first liquid comprising a turpentine liquid; contacting the hydrocarbon-containing material with the turpentine liquid to form an extraction mixture; extracting the hydrocarbon material into the turpentine liquid; and separating the extracted hydrocarbon material from a residual material not extracted.

Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material includes the steps of providing a first liquid comprising a turpentine liquid; contacting the hydrocarbon-containing material with the turpentine liquid to form an extraction mixture; extracting the hydrocarbon material into the turpentine liquid; and separating the extracted hydrocarbon material from a residual material not extracted.

Abstract: A continuous process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon includes the steps of: obtaining a heavy hydrocarbon; heating the heavy hydrocarbon; contacting the heavy hydrocarbon with a solvent at upgrading conditions so as to produce a first product comprising a mixture of upgraded hydrocarbon and solvent and a second product comprising asphaltene waste and water; continuously feeding the first product and the second product to a first separator; heating the first product; and continuously feeding the first product to a second separator to separate the upgraded hydrocarbon from the solvent. A system is also provided.

Abstract: A process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon includes the steps of obtaining a heavy hydrocarbon; contacting the heavy hydrocarbon with a solvent at upgrading conditions so as to produce a first product comprising a mixture of upgraded hydrocarbon and solvent and a second product comprising asphaltene waste, water and solvent; and feeding the first product to a separator to separate the upgraded hydrocarbon from the solvent. A system is also provided.

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: Solvents and methods are provided for extracting a hydrocarbon fraction from a solid, semi-solid, liquid or viscous liquid hydrocarbon-containing material.

Abstract: A process for the production of a pipeline-transportable crude oil from a bitumen feed, the process comprising: (1) dividing the bitumen feed into two fractions, the first fraction comprising between 20 and 80 wt % of the feed, the second fraction comprising between 80 and 20 wt % of the total feed, (the two fraction together forming 100 wt % of the feed), (2) distillation of the first fraction obtained in step (1) (preferably under vacuum) into a light fraction boiling below 380° C. (preferably the 450° C. fraction, more preferably the 510° C. fraction) and a residual fraction; (3) thermal cracking (of at least part of, preferably all of,) the residual fraction obtained in the distillation process described in step (2); (4) distillation of the product obtained in step (3) into one or more light fractions (boiling below 350° C.), optionally one or more intermediate fractions (boiling between 350 and 510° C.) and a heavy fraction (boiling above at least 350° C.

Abstract: A process for upgrading hydrocarbonaceous oil containing heteroatom-containing compounds where the hydrocarbonaceous oil is contacted with a solvent system that is a mixture of a major portion of a polar solvent having a dipole moment greater than about 1 debye and a minor portion of water to selectively separate the constituents of the carbonaceous oil into a heteroatom-depleted raffinate fraction and heteroatom-enriched extract fraction. The polar solvent and the water-in-solvent system are formulated at a ratio where the water is an antisolvent in an amount to inhibit solubility of heteroatom-containing compounds and the polar solvent in the raffinate, and to inhibit solubility of non-heteroatom-containing compounds in the extract. The ratio of the hydrocarbonaceous oil to the solvent system is such that a coefficient of separation is at least 50%.

Abstract: A process for absorbing propylene from a gaseous propylene oxide process purge stream wherein propane liquid is used to absorb the propylene.

Abstract: A process for pre-treating a spent caustic stream prior to oxidation which includes countercurrent multi-stage elevated temperature solvent extraction of dissolved organic material from the spent caustic using a solvent to yield a spent caustic raffinate containing only residual amounts of organic solute and steam distilling the spent caustic raffinate to remove the residual organic solutes, yielding a pretreated spent caustic stream substantially free of organic material which is then subjected to wet air oxidation and thereafter to ozonolysis to yield a wastewater stream having a low COD and BOD, which is neutralized to a pH of 8.5 to 9.0.

Abstract: A feed stream of asphaltene-containing residual oil is processed by contacting the feed stream with a solvent to form a first primary liquid stream containing deasphalted oil (DAO) and some solvent, and a second primary liquid stream containing asphaltene and some solvent. The first and second liquid streams are heated; and the heated streams are respectively processed to recover the solvent and to produce a DAO product stream substantially free of solvent, and an asphaltene product stream substantially free of solvent. A portion of the DAO product stream is heated to produce a stream of heated DAO, a portion of which indirectly heats the two primary liquid streams.

Abstract: A process for pretreating a spent caustic stream prior to oxidation includes countercurrent multi-stage elevated temperature solvent extraction of dissolved organic material from the spent caustic using a solvent to yield a spent caustic raffinate containing only residual amounts of organic solute. The raffinate is steam distilled to remove the residual organic solutes, yielding a pretreated spent caustic stream substantially free of organic material. The pretreated spent caustic is suitable for use in a Kraft paper process or for oxidation prior to recycle or disposal. Solvent extract from the extractor is regenerated in a solvent regenerator having an overhead stream for purging light ends, a bottom stream for purging heavy ends, and a heart-cut side stream for recycling solvent to the extractor.

Abstract: A process for separating polar and non-polar constituents from coal tar distillates, comprising passing the distillates over a separation column together with an eluting agent. According to the invention the process comprises mixing a tar oil distillate with a non-polar solvent, passing this mixture over a separation column which contains a stationary phase and eluting with a non-polar solvent, the eluting agent being collected together with the substances dissolved therein, followed by eluting with a more polar eluting agent or with a plurality of eluting agents of increasing polarity, and separately collecting the more polar eluting agent or the plurality of eluting agents of increasing polarity, together with the substances dissolved therein, followed by isolating the substances dissolved in the non-polar and in the polar solvents, respectively, utilizing known techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for preparing and treating a heavy oil extraction solvent. A solvent fraction is separated from a crude oil and combined with a slip stream of rerun solvent taken from an extraction process solvent recycle system. The solvent fraction and rerun solvent are fractionated to provide a purified extraction solvent. The purified extraction solvent is then utilized in the heavy oil extraction process.

Abstract: This invention provides for a process for separating extractable organic material from a feed composition comprising an oil-in-water emulsion comprising a continuous aqueous phase, a discontinuous organic liquid phase comprising said extractable organic material, and solids dispersed in said emulsion, the process comprising the steps of:(I) mixing said feed composition with sufficient shear to convert said feed composition to a water-in-oil emulsion; and(II) contacting said water-in-oil emulsion with at least one organic solvent, said organic solvent being capable of forming with said emulsion a system comprising at least two phases and being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said extractable organic material per million parts of said organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said solvent boils at atmospheric pressure; forming a system comprising at least two phases, one of said phases being an emulsion phase comprising said emulsion and the other of said phase

Abstract: A process for separating and recovering paraffin sulphonic acids from mixtures with water and sulphuric acid is described, consisting of: bringing such a mixture into contact under extraction conditions with a saturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic liquid hydrocarbon; separating an aqueous liquid phase containing sulphuric acid from an organic liquid phase consisting of the extraction solvent containing the paraffin sulphonic acids; and recovering the paraffin sulphonic acids from said organic liquid phase. The process is particularly applicable to products obtained from processes involving the sulphoxidation of paraffins with sulphur dioxide and oxygen, catalyzed by U.V. radiation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating diamondoid compounds from a natural gas stream containing the same comprising the steps of contacting the natural gas stream with a selected solvent and fractionating the sorbed diamondoids from the diamondoid-enriched solvent in a vacuum separation stage in the absence of reflux. Polyalphaolefin solvents are preferred, and polyalphaolefin solvents enriched in C.sub.30 oligomers are more preferred.

Abstract: This invention provides for a process for separating extractable organic material from a feed composition comprising said extractable organic material intermixed with solids and water, the process comprising:(A) contacting said feed composition with a solvent mixture in an enclosed space, said solvent mixture comprising at least one first organic solvent and at least one second organic solvent, said first organic solvent being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said extractable organic material per million parts of said first organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said first organic solvent boils at atmospheric pressure, said second organic solvent being different than and more volatile than said first organic solvent and being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said first organic solvent per million parts of said second organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said second organic solvent boils at atmospheric p

Abstract: An extractive distillation process for separating at least one C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkene (preferably propylene) from at least one close-boiling alkane (preferably propane) employs propylene carbonate as solvent, optionally in admixture with a minor amount of water.

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: A solvent extraction process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock material into its various component parts. The process comprises the utilization of pressure reduction to enhance the separation and recovery of a deasphalted oil product comprising substantially the lower molecular weight hydrocarbon components present in the original heavy hydrocarbon feedstock material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for preparing and treating a heavy oil extraction solvent. A solvent fraction is separated from a crude oil and combined with a slip stream of rerun solvent taken from an extraction process solvent recycle system. The solvent fraction and rerun solvent are fractionated to provide a purified extraction solvent. The purified extraction solvent is then utilized in the heavy oil extraction process.

Abstract: A process for recovering diamondoid compounds from hydrocarbonaceous minerals and/or from deposits left by such minerals in equipment or otherwise, which comprises dissolving diamondoid compounds in an aromatic distillate fuel oil; extracting aromatics from the solution; and separating diamondoid compounds from the raffinate of the extraction.

Abstract: This invention provides for a process for separating extractable organic material from a feed composition comprising said extractable organic material intermixed with solids and water, the process comprising the steps of: (A) contacting said feed composition with a first organic solvent, said first organic solvent being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said extractable organic material per million parts of said first organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said first organic solvent boils at atmospheric pressure; dissolving at least part of said extractable organic material in said first organic solvent to form a first solution; and separating at least part of said first solution from said feed composition to provide an intermediate composition, part of said first organic solvent remaining intermixed with said intermediate composition; and (B) contacting said intermediate composition with a volatile organic solvent, said voltile organic solvent being capable

Abstract: A process for recovering diamondoid compounds from a fluid mixture thereof with other hydrocarbonaceous compounds which comprises contacting said mixture with a porous solid, for example, a zeolite, having pore opening large enough to admit said diamondoid compounds thereinto and small enough so that at least 50% of the external atoms of said diamondoid compounds are capable of simultaneously contacting the internal walls of the pores of said solid under conditions conducive to absorption of diamondoid compounds by said solid; and then desorbing the absorbate comprising diamondoid compounds from said solid absorbant.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for extracting diamondoid compounds from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The process includes two stages, each of which alone is effective to remove diamondoids from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The first stage comprises contacting the diamondoid-laden hydrocarbon gas with a suitable solvent to preferentially dissolve the diamondoids into the solvent. Diesel fuel is the preferred solvent for this first stage. The second stage comprises sorbing diamondoids from the diamonoid-laden hydrocarbon gas with silica gel. The most preferred embodiment of the invention is a serial process in which a diamondoid-laden gas is first treated in the solvation stage and the partially purified gas is further resolved in the silica gel sorption stage. The invention still further includes a process for segregating adamantane and diamantane when both are separated from a hydrocarbon gas stream.

Abstract: According to this invention, substantially hydrocarbonaceous fractions comprising diamondoid compounds are peculiarly suitable for separation by a thermal gradient diffusion process. Applicability of this process to this service is dependent upon the fact that the diamondoid compounds exhibit a large change in viscosity relative to temperature, that is, their viscosity goes down significantly per degree of increase in temperature.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen-enriched hydrocarbonaceous products which process comprises: (a) converting a heavy, asphaltene-containing hydrocarbonaceous residual oil, wherein at least 80% of the residual oil boils above 650.degree. F. (343.degree. C.), in the presence of hydrogen and a particulate catalyst at residual oil conversion conditions in a reaction zone to produce a liquid effluent stream comprising particulate catalyst and normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds; (b) contacting at least a portion of the liquid effluent stream from step (a) with water and a hydrocarbonaceous solvent comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon; and (c) gravitationally separating the resulting admixture from step (b) into a solvent phase comprising the normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds and essentially free of solids, and an aqueous phase comprising essentially all of the particulate catalyst.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating an organic material from a composition comprising said organic material intermixed with particulate solids, the process comprising advancing a light hydrocarbon fluid through said particulate solids at an effective rate to drive said organic material from said particulate solids.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating an organic material from a composition comprising said organic material intermixed with particulate solids, the process comprising advancing a light hydrocarbon fluid through said particulate solids at an effective rate to drive at least some of said organic material from said particulate solids, adding water to said composition containing particulate solids and residual organic material to produce a second composition, and adding an oxidizing agent to said second composition in an amount sufficient to remove substantially all of the residual organic material.

Abstract: A process for the separate recovery of oil and asphaltene/polar components from oil and asphaltene/polar bearing sand-containing material includes cooling the material to a temperature at which the material behaves as a solid, crushing the material at such a temperature to produce relatively coarse particles containing a major proportion of the sand and oil and relatively fine particles containing a major proportion of the asphaltenes and polars, and mechanically separating the relatively coarse particles from the relatively fine particles at such a temperature. The relatively coarse particles are treated to recover oil, and the relatively fine particles are treated to recover asphaltenes and polars. Similar processes are desirable for the treatment of heavy crude oil which may or may not contain sand.

Abstract: A solvent system composed essentially of sulfolane and a ketone, e.g., sulfolane and methyl ethyl ketone is employed in a liquid-liquid extraction operation to separate a low boiling olefin, e.g., pentene-2, hexene-1, octene-1, etc., from a corresponding close boiling paraffin, e.g., n-pentane, n-hexane, and n-octane, respectively, and wherein solvent is recovered by employing a portion thereof in a drying or stripping column.

Abstract: The process of separating a mixture which is in liquid state or solid state or liquid and solid state and contains at least one compound containing an organic group, which comprisesA. contacting said mixture with a gas maintained under supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure such that the gas will take up at least a portion of said mixture in a quantity varying inversely with said temperature, and effecting said contacting in a manner so that this occurs, and so that there is a substantial gas component that is identifiable as gas phase,B. separating the gas in the form of said identifiable gas phase loaded with the compound taken up during said contacting from any of the mixture not taken up by the gas while still maintaining supercritical conditions as aforesaid,C. thereafter separating the compound from the gas.