Continuum Environmental, LLC

Lawrence M Conaway

Roger K Noble

Michael W Keller

David Caffey

A method for separating oil from geological formations by application of an aqueous oxidant. The oxidant breaks the interfacial attraction between the oil phase and the geological formation and also produces ketone moieties which assist in separating the oil phase from the mineral phase and also dissolve into the oil phase, thereby decreasing the viscosity. The method is especially useful in recovering heavy oil from geological formations wherein oil has been previously extracted to exhaustion by prior art methods.

Method of separating oil from geological formations

Method and apparatus for treating a mixture of mineral substrate particles and hydrocarbon compounds, especially tar sands and contaminated soils, to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a cleaned substrate portion. In a preferably continuous process, hydrocarbonaceous rock, sand, ore, or soil containing bitumen, petroleum, and/or kerogen is crushed or otherwise comminuted as needed to the particle size of sand or smaller. The comminuted ore is mixed with water to form a slurry, is heated to between 60&deg; C. and 100&deg; C., and is blended with an oxidant in aqueous solution, preferably hydrogen peroxide. Both free interstitial hydrocarbons and those hydrocarbons bound electrostatically to the surfaces of clay-like particles in the ore are released from the mineral substrate.

Method of separating hydrocarbons from mineral substrates

A method for treating hydrocarbonaceous deposits to recover a petroleum-like hydrocarbon portion and a cleaned particulate substrate portion. Hydrocarbonaceous ore containing bitumen and/or kerogen is crushed or otherwise comminuted to the particle size of sand or smaller. The comminuted ore is mixed with water to form a slurry, is heated to between 60&deg; C. and 100&deg; C., and is blended with an oxidant in aqueous solution, preferably hydrogen peroxide. Both free interstitial hydrocarbons and those hydrocarbons bound electrostatically to the surfaces of clay-like particles in the ore are released from the rock substrate in a putative electrophysical reaction in the presence of the oxidant. Some of the released bitumenous and kerogenic compounds are then controllably cleaved by the oxidant in a limited Fenton's reaction to yield organic compounds having lower average molecular weights which are suitable for refining as oil after separation from the process water phase and the residual rock substrate. The water and rock tailings from the process are substantially free of hydrocarbon contamination and are environmentally suitable for landfill disposal.

Method for recovering hydrocarbons from tar sands and oil shales

A system for treating industrial sludges to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a solid particulate substrate portion. A sludge feedstock is screened to remove large particles and is diluted to between about 5% and about 50% solids to form a slurry. The slurry is agitated and heated to 180.degree. F. or higher for a time sufficient to melt waxy hydrocarbon solids, reduce the viscosity of the slurry, reduce the density of hydrocarbons within the slurry, and break surface adhesion of hydrocarbon compounds to substrate particles. In a first separation step, the substrate particles are separated from a first liquid effluent containing most of the hydrocarbons from the original sludge, which may be further processed for recycle use. A first residual substrate cake is redispersed in hot water to form a second slurry and is treated with an amount of hydrogen peroxide for a time sufficient to lyse and/or liberate residual hydrocarbon compounds and to oxidize toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to non-toxic derivatives. The second slurry is passed through a second separation step, yielding a second liquid effluent which may be combined with the first liquid effluent for recovery processing of the hydrocarbons. The second residual substrate cake may be disposed of, as by landfilling, or further processed to recover valuable material in the substrate.

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Niagara Falls, NY, United States of America

Lawrence M Conaway