Enhancement of saturates content in heavy hydrocarbons utilizing ultrafiltration
US8177965B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 2007 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G2300/107
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention relates to an ultrafiltration process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon stream to produce an enriched saturates content stream(s) utilizing an ultrafiltration separations process. The enriched saturates content streams can then be further processed in refinery and petrochemical processes that will benefit from the higher content of saturated hydrocarbons produced from this separations process. The invention may be utilized to separate heavy hydrocarbon feedstreams, such as whole crudes, topped crudes, synthetic crude blends, shale oils, oils derived from bitumen, oils derived from tar sands, atmospheric resids, vacuum resids, or other heavy hydrocarbon streams into enriched saturates content product streams. The invention provides an economical method for separating heavy hydrocarbon stream components by molecular species instead of molecular boiling points.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.