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US4305812A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Solvent deasphalting by polarity gradient extraction

Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
•
Filing: 1980-06-19
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Granted: 1981-12-15
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Expires: 2000-06-19
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Abstract

Abstract An improved method for deasphalting residua or heavy oils comprises the use of at least two solvents in an extraction column to establish a liquid polarity gradient within it.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stuart S. Shih
  • 👤 Samuel A. Tabak
  • 👤 Philip J. Angevine
  • 👤 Michael B. Carroll

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 02:51
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10C; C10C3/00; C10C3/08; C10C1/00; C10C1/18; C10G; C10G21/00; C10G21/003

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 87 words
An improved method for deasphalting a feedstock in an extraction column by contacting said feedstock with solvent under conditions to produce a raffinate and an extract phase, the improvement wherein said feedstock is contacted with at least two polar solvents, the least polar of which is injected into said column at a point nearest the column end nearest the raffinate take-off stream point and the most polar of which is injected into said column at a point nearest the column end with the extract take-off stream point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 87 words
An improved method for deasphalting a feedstock in an extraction column by contacting said feedstock with solvent under conditions to produce a raffinate and an extract phase, the improvement wherein said feedstock is contacted with at least two polar solvents, the least polar of which is injected into said column at a point nearest the column end nearest the raffinate take-off stream point and the most polar of which is injected into said column at a point nearest the column end with the extract take-off stream point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least three solvents are used and wherein the solvents are injected into the column in the order of their polarity, the medium polar solvents being injected at points intermediate to the low polar solvent injection port and to the high polar solvent injection port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the raffinate take-off line is near the top of the column and the extract take-off line is near the bottom of the column, resulting in gravity settling to effect product separation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the raffinate take-off line is near the top of the column and the extract take-off line is near the bottom of the column, resulting in gravity settling to effect product separation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent concentration gradient is maintained by minimizing backmixing through the use of a column height-to-diameter ratio of at least 10.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the solvent concentration gradient is maintained by minimizing backmixing through the use of a column height-to-diameter ratio of at least 10.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the highest polarity solvent is sufficiently polar to dissolve the extract phase product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the highest polarity solvent is sufficiently polar to dissolve the extract phase product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solvents boil at least 100° below the initial boiling point of the feedstock.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the solvents boil at least 100° below the initial boiling point of the feedstock.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a solvent polarity gradient is controlled by one or both of solvent type and relative solvent concentration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 2 wherein a solvent polarity gradient is controlled by one or both of solvent type and relative solvent concentration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein solvent concentration gradient is achieved by one or more of relative solvent feed rates, extraction column-configuration and solvent injection port location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 27 words
The process of claim 2 wherein solvent concentration gradient is achieved by one or more of relative solvent feed rates, extraction column-configuration and solvent injection port location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a solvent polarity gradient is controlled wholly or partly by a temperature gradient throughout the extraction column, achieved by feeding the heavy charge stock and solvents into the column at different temperatures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 38 words
The process of claim 2 wherein a solvent polarity gradient is controlled wholly or partly by a temperature gradient throughout the extraction column, achieved by feeding the heavy charge stock and solvents into the column at different temperatures.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the column temperature and pressure are controlled such that at least one of the solvents exists as a supercritical fluid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 26 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the column temperature and pressure are controlled such that at least one of the solvents exists as a supercritical fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the boiling points of the solvents differ by at least 50° F.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the boiling points of the solvents differ by at least 50° F.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the internal design of the extraction column utilizes baffles and/or contacting devices.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the internal design of the extraction column utilizes baffles and/or contacting devices.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2980602A Cited
US3433735A Cited
US3779896A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-12-14 1985-06-15 1985-12-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-12-14 1989-06-15 1989-12-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-12-14 1993-06-15 1993-12-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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