Method of separating hydrocarbons from mineral substrates

A method for separating hydrocarbons from a mixture of hydrocarbons and a particulate mineral substrate, comprising the steps of:

• a) feeding a predetermined amount of said mixture into a mixing vessel;
• b) adding a predetermined amount of water to said mixture;
• c) mixing said water and said mixture together to form an aqueous slurry;
• d) tempering said slurry to a temperature between about 20° C. and about 150° C.;
• e) passing said tempered slurry from said mixing vessel through a linear oxidation vessel at a low axial flow velocity and a high radial and rotational flow velocity to release said hydrocarbons from said mineral substrate and to reduce the molecular weight of at least a portion of said hydrocarbons, the residence time of said slurry in said oxidation vessel being between about 5 minutes and about 60 minutes;
• and
• f) passing said tempered slurry from said linear oxidation vessel through a separator wherein at least a portion of said particulate mineral substrate is separated from said water and said hydrocarbons, and wherein at least a portion of said hydrocarbons are separated from said water.