Separation system for high pressure processing system

Method of separating and purifying products from a high pressure processing system adapted for processing a feed stream comprising carbonaceous material at a pressure of at least 150 bar and a temperature of at least 300° C., where converted feed stream is cooled to a temperature in the range 50 to 250° C., and depressurized to a pressure in the range 1 to 150 bar, the method comprising:

• separating the depressurized, converted feed stream into a gas phase, an oil phase, and a water phase comprising water soluble organics, dissolved salts and optionally suspended particles in a first phase separator;
• and
• purifying the oil phase from the first phase separator by mixing it with one or more washing agents, and separating the oil phase from the one or more washing agents in at least one further separation step,
• wherein gas is separated from the converted feed stream in a flash separator prior to entering the first phase separator, and the pressure of the flash separator is in the range 1 to 150 bar, and
• wherein an acidifying agent is added to at least one of the one or more washing agents comprising water, and the acidifying agent comprises CO2 containing process gas.