Solvent extraction process for tar sands

Patent · Tue Aug 31 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6601850

Funk, E W; May, W G; Pirkle, J C

A solvent extraction process for tar sands is disclosed wherein a low boiling solvent having a normal boiling point of from 20* to 70* C. Is used to extract tar sands. The solvent is mixed with tar sands in a dissolution zone, the solvent:bitumen weight ratio being maintained at from about 0.5:1 to 2:1. This mixture is passed to a separation zone in which bitumen and inorganic fines are separated from extracted sand, the separation zone containing a classifier and countercurrent extraction column. The extracted sand is introduced into a first fluid-bed drying zone fluidized by heated solvent vapors, so as to remove unbound solvent from extracted sand while at the same time lowering the water content of the sand to less than about 2 wt. %. The so-treated sand is then passed into a second fluid-bed drying zone fluidized by a heated inert gas to remove bound solvent. Recovered solvent is recycled to the dissolution zone.

• Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co
• Patent Number(s): US 4347118
• OSTI ID: 6601850
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
ALKANES
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION
FLOW RATE
FLUIDIZED BED
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
INERT ATMOSPHERE
MATERIALS
OIL SANDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PENTANE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
TAR