Solid adsorption process for removing particles from heavy, partially refined oils

Abstract

The invention relates to removing contaminants from hydrocarbon oil or carbon precursor oil using solid sorbents that are comprised primarily of carbon and preferably of coke particles. The coke particles have an affinity for contaminants in hydrocarbon oil and carbon precursor oil and are sized to be filtered from the liquid fuel without plugging. As the contaminants agglomerate onto the solid sorbent, the resulting particles form a filter cake on conventional filter materials in such a way as to allow the hydrocarbon oil or carbon precursor oil to pass on through without significant pressure drop or delay.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.