Process for the removal of fine powdery material from an adsorbent solid

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON OILS TO PURIFY THE SAME WHICH COMPRISES: CONTACTING A LIQUID HYDROCARBON OIL WITH A MOVING COLUMNAR MASS OF ADSORBENT OF PALPABLE PARTICLE FORM WITHIN A CONFINED TREATING ZONE, PASSING USED ADSORBENT FROM THE TREATING ZONE INTO A CONFINED WASHING ZONE, CONTACTING THE USED ADSORBENT IN THE WASHING ZONE WITH A WASHING SOLVENT WHEREBY ADHERING OIL IS REMOVED FROM THE USED ADSORBENT, PASSING THE WASHED USED ADSORBENT INTO A CONFINED DRYING ZONE, HEATING THE ADSORBENT IN THE DRYING ZONE TO A TEMPERATURE LEVEL SUFFICIENT TO VAPORIZE ANY WASHING SOLVENT ADHERING TO THE ADSORBENT, PASSING AN INERT CONDENSIBLE STRIPPING GAS UPWARDLY THROUGH THE DRYING ZONE AT A VELOCITY SUFFICIENT TO ENTRAIN ADSORBENT FINES THEREIN AND TO STRIP SOLVENT VAPORS FROM THE ADSORBENT, REMOVING DRIED ADSORBENT FROM THE DRYING ZONE, MAINTAINING THE VELOCITY OF THE STRIPPING GAS WITHIN THE DRYING ZONE SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO REMOVE FROM THE DRYING ZONE ALL ADSORBENT FINES OF A SIZE LESS THAN 150 MESH