Patent number: 6464856

Separation of tars, oils and inorganic constituents from oil bearing sands or shales

Original Assignee: Deinking/ Solvent Extraction Technologies

Field of technology: Industrial Machinery and Processes

Patent granted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2002

Patent drawing

Abstract

An improved process for the total separation and recovery of four constituents, namely, 1) insoluble pitches and tars also known as asphaltenes, 2) a kerosene based oil fraction, 3) clays and silts of less than 80 &mgr;m mesh and 4) sands of greater than 80 &mgr;m mesh. Recombination of the hydrocarbon fractions is the bitumen portion of tar sands. A further process for the extraction and separation of plant resins from cellulose and kerogen from oil shale that on thermal depolymerization become a source for aromatic and kerosene based oil fractions respectively.