An apparatus and method of high pressure treatment of bulk material by extraction and/or impregnation may involve treating bulk material in an internal volume of a pressure vessel apparatus at a high pressure level in a range from 40 to 1000 bar under isolation from the environment. The high pressure treatment may be performed charge-wise in a closed system in the pressure vessel apparatus in that the bulk material is supplied charge-wise to the internal volume with the pressure vessel apparatus closed and is positioned in at least one treatment plane. Upon completion of the high pressure treatment, the bulk material is discharged charge-wise from the internal volume with the pressure vessel apparatus closed. This also gives advantages in terms of handling, especially also with regard to material flow, and with regard to operational reliability.

A proppant slurry for fracturing a subterranean formation is prepared by preparing a mixture comprising the proppant and a transfer fluid and transferring the proppant from the mixture to a base fluid, such as a liquefied gas or an acid. The proppant can be mixed with the transfer fluid to form a transfer slurry, the transfer slurry and the base fluid can be introduced into a proppant exchange device, and the proppant can be transferred from the transfer slurry to the base fluid to form the proppant slurry. The base fluid and the proppant slurry can be maintained in a closed system, out of contact with the surrounding environment, while the proppant can be added continuously to the base fluid. A proppant exchange device for use in the method is also provided.

An apparatus and method for high pressure treatment of bulk material by extraction and/or impregnation may involve high pressure treating bulk material in a high pressure treatment volume of a pressure vessel apparatus at a high pressure level, especially high pressure in the range from 40 to 1000 bar. The method comprises at least the three following step sequences that are each controllable individually: pressurization, high pressure treatment, and depressurization. The high pressure treatment is performed in a continuous manner in the high pressure treatment volume. The high pressure treatment volume or the entire pressure vessel apparatus is in a fixed arrangement during the high pressure treatment. The continuity of the high pressure treatment is ensured solely by means of the high pressure treatment volume. This especially enables engineering optimization of high pressure treatment processes, for example extraction.

Systems and methods provide distillation systems and associated distillation methods. A distillation system can include a distillation chamber for distilling a biomass. A heat source can be applied to the distillation chamber to heat the biomass. A source of vacuum can be applied to the distillation chamber to remove a solvent from the distillation chamber. A magnetically driven spinner apparatus can be positioned within the distillation chamber and including at least a first paddle for generating a splash agitation of the biomass in the distillation chamber, wherein the magnetically driven spinner apparatus does not extend through any wall of the distillation chamber. A drive assembly can include a motor to cause rotational movement of the magnetically driven spinner apparatus within the distillation chamber.