Extraction of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing materials

A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a hydrocarbon-extracting liquid that is a turpentine liquid or a combination of a turpentine liquid and a turpentine-miscible second liquid;
• contacting a hydrocarbon-containing material with said hydrocarbon-extracting liquid to form an extraction mixture;
• extracting said hydrocarbon-containing organic matter into said hydrocarbon-extracting liquid;
• and
• separating said extracted hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a residual material not extracted.

A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a turpentine liquid selected from the group consisting of natural turpentine, synthetic turpentine, mineral turpentine, pine oil, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-terpineol, β-terpineol, 3-carene, anethole, dipentene (p-mentha-1,8-diene), terpene resins, nopol, pinane, camphene, p-cymene, anisaldeyde, 2-pinane hydroperoxide, 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene, isobornyl acetate, terpin hydrate, ocimene, 2-pinanol, dihydromycenol, isoborneol, α-terpineol, alloocimene, alloocimene alcohols, geraniol, 2-methoxy-2,6-dimethyl-7,8-epoxyoctane, camphor, p-menthan-8-ol, α-terpinyl acetate, citral, citronellol, 7-methoxydihydrocitronellal, 10-camphorsulphonic acid, p-methene, p-menthan-8-yl acetate, cintronellal, 7-hydroxydihydrocitronellal, menthol, menthone, polymers thereof, and mixtures thereof;
• contacting a hydrocarbon-containing material with said turpentine liquid form an extraction mixture;
• extracting said hydrocarbon material into said turpentine liquid;
• and
• separating said extracted hydrocarbon material from a residual material not extracted.