Patent · US Expired

Extraction and upgrading of fossil fuels using fused caustic and acid solutions

US4545891A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
51References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 10, 1983
Grant dateOct 8, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 10, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC10G1/00
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A crushed hydrocarbon-bearing material containing hydrocarbon and foreign mineral constituents is dispersed in fused alkali metal caustic to remove the sulfur content and release the foreign mineral matter from the hydrocarbon material for recovery and/or upgrading of the hydrocarbon content. The process permits recovery of 80-95% of the available kerogen or other hydrocarbon in a mineral matrix such as oil shale rock and conditions a solid fossil fuel such as coal, as well as the kerogen or other hydrocarbon released from the mineral matrix, for removal of substantially all remaining ash and other foreign mineral matter by subsequent washing of the hydrocarbon product in an aqueous solution of acid.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.