Process for removal of water (both bound and unbound) from petroleum sludges and emulsions with a view to retrieve original hydrocarbons present therein

摘要

The present invention discloses a process for pretreatment of viscous hydrocarbon sludge and subsequent process for removal bound water thereby either opting for a total reflux of solvent till achieving till achieving a boiling point of the solvent. The present invention further discloses a process for pretreatment of non-viscous hydrocarbon sludge and subsequent process for removal bound water thereby opting for a complete reflux of solvent till a maximum temperature of 99° C. when the solvent has a boiling point distinctly below 99° C. The present invention further discloses a process for treatment of non-viscous sludge thereby opting for complete reflux of solvent either till boiling point of solvent or till boiling point of solvent when the boiling point of solvent is distinctly lower than boiling point of hydrocarbons present in the non-viscous sludge.