Abstract: From palm oil, valuable compounds like the tocochromanols, carotenoids, phytosterols and other can be derived in the new process. Fractions derived from crude palm oil, already enriched to some extent in tocochromanols, carotenoids, phytosterols, and others, are treated by supercritical fluid technology in a unique combination of counter current separation with selective adsorption and desorption using supercritical fluids.

Abstract: From palm oil valuable compounds like the tocochromanols, carotenoids, phytosterols, and others can be derived. Enrichment to highly concentrated fractions is hindered by the enormous number of components involved, the very low volatility, the very low solubility of many of the compounds in organic solvents, and the high viscosity of the mixtures to be processed. Starting materials for the new process are enriched fractions of tocochromanols (about 20 to about 50 wt.-%) and/or carotenoids (about 10 to 30 wt.-%) from palm oil obtained by conventional processes, or by counter current multistage processes with supercritical carbon dioxide. These processes, not addressed here, may comprise: Removal of free fatty acids, transesterification of the triglycerides to methyl or ethyl esters, removal of the esters, e.g. by short path distillation, separation of the tocochromanol fraction from the carotenoid fraction by cooling.

Abstract: In a method for the separation of supercritical gas from substances dissolved in the gas with a membrane through which the gas passes while the substances dissolved in the gas is retained, a pore-free membrane of a polymer perfluoro-2,2-diemthyl-1,3-dioxole is used as a membrane in the separation process.

Abstract: In a method for the separation of supercritical gas from substances dissolved in the gas with a membrane through which the gas passes while the substances dissolved in the gas is retained, a pore-free membrane of a polymer perfluoro-2,2-diemthyl-1,3-dioxol is used as a membrane in the separation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying low molecular weight isocyanates or isocyanate mixtures from chlorine compounds by extractively treating the low molecular weight isocyanates or isocyanate mixtures with an extraction agent containing near-critical and/or super-critical fluids or fluid mixtures at a temperature of 10° C. to 200° C., a pressure of 10 bar to 1,000 bar and a weight ratio of the extraction agent to the isocyanate or isocyanate mixture of 1 to 200, and separating the chlorine compounds from the extraction agent by reduction in pressure.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of unsaturated fatty acids with at least 16 carbon atoms in the molecule or a derivative of such a fatty acid from a mixture of fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives by column chromatography with supercritical or liquid carbon dioxide as the mobile phase comprises using aluminum oxide, optionally pretreated with alkali, as the stationary phase. The pre-treatment of the aluminum oxide is conveniently effected by contacting the particulate aluminum oxide with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide, optionally supplemented with a water-miscible or water-soluble organic solvent, in the pH range of about 10 to about 13 over several hours. The unsaturated fatty acids or fatty acid derivatives produced chromatographically in this manner are suitable as valuable active agents in the fields of nutrition and medicine.

Abstract: A process for the extraction of oils from oil-containing solid vegetable material by means of compressed gases, wherein said vegetable material is extracted with a mixture consisting of a supercritical gas and a subcritical entraining agent selected from the group consisting of propane, butane, pentane, ethanol, ethyl acetate, formaldehydedimethylacetal, CHF.sub.

Abstract: A process and system for low-temperature carbonization of oil shale, oil sands and similar oil-bearing solids includes low-temperature carbonization of oil-bearing solids in a high-pressure fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a substance selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and steam at temperatures substantially between 400.degree.and 600.degree. C. for producing low-temperature carbonization gas. The low-temperature carbonization gas is condensed in at least two stages for producing relatively higher boiling and relatively lower boiling oil fractions. The oil-bearing solids are peripherally mashed with the higher boiling oil fraction of the low-temperature carbonization gas, before introducing the oil-bearing solids into the high-pressure fluidized bed reactor. The oil-bearing solids mashed with the higher boiling oil fraction are returned to the high-pressure fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: A process is disclosed of separating fine solids from oil in which the solids are dispersed which comprising contacting said oil with a combination of a compressed above-critical gas and an entraining agent at such temperature and such pressure that the system consisting of the oil, entraining agent and above-critical gas constitutes a single phase, withdrawing and separating the so-withdrawn phase into a liquid phase rich in oil and a gas phase lean in oil, the single-phase mixture of oil, entraining agent and above-critical gas from the solids.

Abstract: Method of extracting liquid hydrocarbons from oil-containing stone or sand, wherein the oil-containing stone or the oil-containing sand undergoes hydrogenating, low temperature carbonization in a reactor at temperatures of 450.degree. to 520.degree. C. and a pressure of approximately 50 bar through the action of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and steam, and wherein the hydrocarbons are separated from the resulting gaseous, low temperature carbonization mixture. The low temperature carbonization mixture from the reactor is cooled in a first separation stage to a temperature of approximately 350.degree. C. to condense the less volatile hydrocarbons. The separated, liquid phase is fed to a solids separator and placed in contact with a circulating gas of carbon dioxide and a C.sub.6 /C.sub.7 hydrocarbon fraction. The low temperature carbonization mixture containing uncondensed gases and more volatile hydrocarbons are washed in a second separation stage with water and cooled to approximately 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for extracting hydrocarbons from oil shale comprising the steps of subjecting oil shale under superatmospheric pressure in the presence of hydrogen and steam, to low temperature hydrogenating distillation; separating the resulting fluid distillation mixture into liquid and gaseous products; and returning water and hydrogen separated from the fluid distillation mixture to the low temperature distillation; in which:heat is drawn-off from the hot oil shale, after treatment in a low temperature hydrogenating distillation reactor, by the shale being sprayed wtih water whereby saturated steam is produced in decreasing pressure stages;the saturated steam of the pressure stages and water extracted during product separation are fed into the individual stages of a multi-stage compressor driven by a gas turbine, and are then delivered via a steam supply line to the reactor;the gas turbine is fuelled by supplying separated-off gaseous distillation products thereto; andthe exhaust gases of the gas turbine are fe

Abstract: An arrangement for extracting crude oil from oil shale comprising: a low temperature carbonization reactor; a processing means for feeding a slurry of oil shale, solvent and hydrogen into the low temperature carbonization reactor; a separating means for separating the resulting gaseous low temperature carbonization mixture from the used oil shale and for separating the low temperature carbonization mixture into gaseous and liquid low temperature carbonization products; a gas turbine the exhaust gas outlet of which is connected to two heat exchangers, one of which heat exchangers is disposed in a circulation system for a scavenging gas, which circulation system includes a separating reactor (which forms part of said separating means) in which in use the scavenging gas flows upwardly in counterflow to the oil shale for separation of the fluid low temperature carbonization mixture from the used oil shale, and the other of which heat exchangers is disposed between the low temperature carbonization reactor and sai

Abstract: The invention involves a process for substantially separating the components of mixtures of substances at least one of which is of low volatility while the other is of low or no volatility, the process using a compressed gas under supercritical conditions and an entrainer which increases the concentration of said mixture in the gaseous phase as well as the separation factor between the components to be separated. The process operates in two distillation zones the first of which substantially separates the components of low volatility in a process similar to a rectification process while the second distillation zone separates the top product of the first distillation zone from the gas with the aid of the entrainer which is condensed partially and in this state is passed in countercurrent to the gas carrying the separated component of low volatility.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for the decaffeination of coffee, wherein--usually moistened--coffee is exposed to a circulating medium essentially composed of a compressed gas and an entrainer; this medium is subjected to partial condensation of the caffeine containing entrainer, in the absence of decompression; the caffeine is recovered from the condensate by evaporation of the entrainer portion thereof, and the medium is recycled to the coffee for continued extraction of caffeine therefrom.