Abstract: Dispersed solids, particularly fine peptized hydrophobic solids, present in some petroleum oils, bitumen solutions or concentrates, heavy oils and the like, may be removed by distributing an additive selected from resorcinol, catechol, formic acid, maleic acid or anhydride, chloral hydrate and asphaltene - precipitating solvents (preferably certain mixtures thereof) throughout the dispersion to cause small agglomerates containing the solids to form, and separating the agglomerates from the residual liquid. This residual liquid is rendered more suitable for various refining processes. Agglomerates containing asphaltenes and mineral solids may be used e.g. in hydrogen generation, for compounding roofing materials and in paving materials.

Abstract: Crude petroleum water-in-oil emulsions such as those produced by steam injection or water flooding in secondary oil well treatments (and other emulsions of this type) can be very effectively broken by the addition of water-insoluble, polar compounds selected from certain aliphatic carboxylic acids, alcohols, ketones including diketones, acetates, nitropropane, nitrobutane; and alkyl-substituted phenols; in small amounts up to about 8% by weight based on the emulsion. It was found that the number of carbon atoms in the aliphatic compounds and in the phenol's alkyl substituents must be within certain ranges for effective demulsification. The dispersed aqueous droplets, on treatment with the selected compound and appropriate agitation, come together to form an aqueous phase which can be separated. The additives can be recovered from the organic phase and recycled. Certain additive mixtures have been found very effective.

Abstract: Finely divided proteinaceous solids suspended in a non-polar organic liquid are formed into agglomerates by contacting the suspension with an immiscible polar liquid comprising selected alkanol-water mixtures, agitating the 3-phase system to effect agglomeration, separating the agglomerates and recovering the proteinaceous solids. The proteinaceous solids are usually derived from cereal grains or legume seeds, particularly those on which a milling, fractionation or solvent extraction is carried out in a non-polar organic liquid medium.

Abstract: Tar sands and like mineral solids-plus petroleum deposits are separated into a petroleum fraction and a solids fraction by contacting with an organic solvent or diluent (in one or more stages) to give a liquid slurry, providing in the system a small amount of an aqueous agglomerating liquid, mixing and agitating until discrete compact agglomerates of hydrophilic solids form, separating the solid easily-handled agglomerates and recovering the petroleum fraction and solvent or diluent. This process avoids the large volumes of aqueous effluent inherent in the "hot water" and other processes using large amounts of water. The solid agglomerates may be used as clean fill, sintered to aggregate, or modified to serve as soil amendments.