Process for extracting crude oil from substrates

Abstract

A process allows the extraction of heavy hydrocarbon compounds from solid substrates in an economical and efficient fashion. Materials containing heavy hydrocarbons (i.e. oil sands or roofing shingles) are broken up into an auger and then mixed with light hydrocarbons. Subsequently, the resulting slurry is shaken to separate fluids from solids, and the fluids are subjected to one or more filtering processes to remove waste sediment. These filtering processes may include a series of one or more of centrifuges and nozzle purifier machines. Filtered fluids are distilled to separate heavy hydrocarbons from light hydrocarbons. Simultaneously, the solids are heated to remove the remaining light hydrocarbons as vapors. Light hydrocarbons are cooled in a condenser and coalesced in a holding tank, wherefrom they may be recirculated into the process and used repeatedly. The now-isolated heavy hydrocarbons resulting from the distillation process may be removed as a purified product.