Process for converting oil shale into petroleum

摘要

A process for converting oil shale into petroleum is disclosed. The process includes the steps of pulverizing oil shale to produce pulverized oil shale and then preparing a mixture of pulverized oil shale, water and ethyl alcohol in a sealed vessel. The mixture in the sealed vessel is then heated to a temperature of at least about 465° F. for a period of time which is sufficient to cause the oil shale and ethyl alcohol to combine to produce a second mixture of petroleum and water. The water is then separated from the petroleum.