Filtration of feed to integration of solvent deasphalting and gasification
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorsPaul S. Wallace, Kay Anderson Johnson
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Abstract
The invention is a process of removing solids, particularly catalyst fines, from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid. The process comprises contacting an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid with a solvent to create a mixture. The solvent is typically an alkane such as, propane to pentanes. Then, solids are removed from the mixture by any known process. Finally, additional solvent may be added, and the mixture heated until asphaltenes precipitate into a separate phase. The asphaltenes are removed from the mixture. The mixture is then further heated to recover the solvent from the deasphalted hydrocarbon liquid. The asphaltenes are advantageously gasified.
Claims22
A process of removing solids from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid, said process comprising in order:
- a) contacting an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid with a solvent to form a mixture, said mixture having a lower viscosity than the asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid;
- b) removing the solids from the mixture;
- c) precipitating the asphaltenes from the mixture;
- and
- d) removing substantially solids-free asphaltenes from the mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.