Upgrading of bitumen asphaltenes by hot water treatment containing carbonate (C-2726)

摘要

A process for upgrading bitumen asphaltenes obtained from tar sands to hydrocarbons which comprises contacting the bitumen with a deasphalting solvent to yield a deasphalted oil and a residual solid asphaltene, separating the residual solid asphaltene from the deasphalted oil and treating the solid asphaltene fraction with superheated water containing a soluble carbonate salt at temperatures of from 300 DEG to 425 DEG C.