Processing of dehydrated and salty hydrocarbon feeds

A method of processing a dehydrated and salty oil sands-derived hydrocarbon feed having a solid salt dispersed in a hydrocarbon material, the method comprising:

• a. contacting the dehydrated and salty oil sands-derived hydrocarbon feed with an active agent comprising an alcohol under a first operating condition, wherein under the first operating condition:
• i. the active agent has an initial active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon material;
• and
• ii. the salt has a salt solubility in the hydrocarbon material;
• b. modulating operating conditions to provide a second operating condition, wherein under the second operating condition:
• i. the active agent has a secondary active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon material that is less than the initial active agent solubility so as to form a separable active agent phase,
• wherein the salt solubility in the active agent is substantially greater than the salt solubility in the hydrocarbon material under both the first and second operating conditions such that the salt dissolves in the active agent;
• and
• c. allowing the separable active agent phase to separate from the hydrocarbon material depleted in the salt under the second operating condition.