A process for the conversion of hydrocarbons containing residues or heavy distillates which may be laden with impurities into light products that may be distilled, the process comprising:
- preheating a hydrocarbon load to a first temperature;
- treating the load with a jet having a first amount of energy, thereby transferring at least a portion of the first amount of energy to the load and causing the load to reach an activation energy at which at least a portion of the molecules of the load split into lighter molecules;
- stabilizing the load at a second temperature in a reactor, wherein the reactor is operated at a first pressure;
- expanding the load at a second pressure and
- passing the load through a series of extractors, at least one of the extractors being configured to demetallize the load, at least one of the extractors being configured to produce water/hydrocarbon emulsions.