Extraction of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing materials

摘要

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.

主权项

1. An apparatus for extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from solid or semi-solid hydrocarbon containing materials into a turpentine liquid and subsequently separating the solid or semi-solid hydrocarbon containing materials from said turpentine liquid, comprising:
a turpentine liquid supply comprising a homogenous one-phase turpentine liquid for extracting hydrocarbons-containing organic matter from the hydrocarbon containing materials, said turpentine liquid supply comprising means for heating the turpentine liquid without boiling the turpentine liquid; a contacting vessel, said contacting vessel having a first inlet and being in fluid communication with the turpentine liquid supply through the first inlet, the contacting vessel being operable to receive the hydrocarbon-containing materials in an interior portion through a second inlet, the contacting vessel being operable to maintain the hydrocarbon-containing materials and the turpentine liquid in the interior portion of the contacting vessel for a predetermined amount of time operable to form an extraction mixture and a residual material, the extraction mixture comprising at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-containing organic matter and the turpentine liquid, the residual material comprising at least a portion of non-soluble material from the hydrocarbon-containing material that are not soluble in the turpentine liquid; the contacting vessel comprising a first outlet for recovering the extraction mixture from the contacting vessel and a second outlet for recovering the residual material from the contacting vessel, the contacting vessel being operable to allow for mechanical agitation, wherein said contacting vessel is a rotary inclined filter further comprising a plurality of fins or trays configured to control contact time between the turpentine liquid and the hydrocarbon containing materials; a grinder, said grinder being configured to reduce the size of the hydrocarbon containing materials for contact with the liquid turpentine in the contacting vessel; a holding tank, said holding tank being in fluid communication with the contacting vessel directly through a line, wherein the holding tank is operable to directly receive the extraction mixture from the contacting vessel, wherein the line includes a filter to prevent the passage of solids to the holding tank; collection means for collecting the residual material directly from the second outlet of the contacting vessel; and a separation vessel for receiving the extraction mixture from the holding tank, the separation vessel being operable to substantially separate the hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from the turpentine liquid.