Process for the treatment of refinery purge streams

A process for the treatment of refinery purge streams, the process comprising:

• a) withdrawing a refinery purge stream comprising a hydrocarbon component in slurry phase having a boiling point higher than or equal to 140° C., characterized by the presence of quantities of asphaltenes higher than or equal to 5% by weight and characterized by the presence of solid contents greater than or equal to 5% by weight;
• b) mixing said purge, at a temperature higher than or equal to 100° C., with a fluxing agent, having a total content of aromatic compounds ranging from 50% to 70% by weight, and an initial boiling point equal to or higher than the temperature at which the mixing is carried out, wherein the fluxing agent is a mixture of Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO) and High Vacuum Gas Oil, so as to form a suspension with a content higher than or equal to 10% by weight of compounds having a boiling point Tbp lower than or equal to 350° C.;
• c) sending said suspension to a liquid-solid separation step, which operates at a temperature higher than or equal to 100° C., separating a solid phase comprising a residual organic component and a solid component, or cake, and a liquid phase comprising residual solids;
• d) cooling the solid phase thus obtained to 60° C. or less, and storing it, maintaining it at a temperature lower than or equal to 60° C.;
• wherein a weight ratio between purge and fluxing agent ranges from 1:0.5 to 1:4;
• and an average residence time of the mixture during the mixing and before the liquid-solid separation is lower than or equal to 12 hours.