A system and method for cleaning sulfur and other pollutants from bunker oil to be used for fuel in large cargo ships is described. Preferably, the system includes two or more stages having a mixer to create an emulsion of oil and water. One or more treatment chemicals are added to the water before it is mixed with the oil in order to assist in separating the sulfur from the oil and freeing it up so that it can combine with various other molecules present in the water or be dissolved in the water. The emulsion may pass through a microcavitation chamber as well as an electrolysis reactor chamber in order to further clean the fuel oil by removing additional sulfur content. The clean fuel is sent to a fuel service tank for use in a diesel engine combustion cycle.

A system and method for cleaning sulfur and other pollutants from bunker oil to be used for fuel in large cargo ships is described. Preferably, the system includes two or more stages having a mixer to create an emulsion of oil and water. One or more treatment chemicals are added to the water before it is mixed with the oil in order to assist in separating the sulfur from the oil and freeing it up so that it can combine with various other molecules present in the water or be dissolved in the water. The emulsion may pass through a microcavitation chamber as well as an electrolysis reactor chamber in order to further clean the fuel oil by removing additional sulfur content. The clean fuel is sent to a fuel service tank for use in a diesel engine combustion cycle.

Method for characterizing a heavily biodegraded oil sand ore sample by microwave-assisted bitumen extraction. Vacuum-filtration of solvent-extracted bitumen and sediments provides a means to recover sediment fines down to a particle size of 0.8 μm, which is the analytical requirement for accurate mineralogical analysis of the clay mineral fraction. The method may be completed in hours, making it suitable for “just-in-time” analyzes at the mine site. The recovered sediment and sediment fines are suitable for characterization using traditional analytical techniques to understand mineralogy, petrology, and reservoir properties.

We disclose a process for purification of hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as refining bunker fuels to yield low-sulphur fuels, cleaning of waste engine oil (etc) to yield a usable hydrocarbon product, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, as well as the treatment of crude oils, shale oils, and the tailings remaining after fractionation and like processes. The method comprises the steps of heating the hydrocarbon thereby to release a gas phase, contacting the gas with an aqueous persulphate electrolyte within a reaction chamber, and condensing the gas to a liquid or a liquid/gas mixture and removing its aqueous component. It also comprises subjecting the reaction product to an electrical field generated by at least two opposing electrode plates between which the reaction product flows; this electrolytic step regenerates the persulphate electrolyte which can be recirculated within the process. The process is ideally applied in an environment at lower than atmospheric pressure, such as less than 1500 Pa. A wide range of hydrocarbons can be treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as engine oils and sulphur-contaminated fuels are prime examples, but there are a wide range of others such as hydrocarbons derived from the pyrolysis of a material having a hydrocarbon content. One such example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils), which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above, and a residue that provides a useful solid fuel.

We disclose a process for purification of hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as refining bunker fuels to yield low-sulphur fuels, cleaning of waste engine oil (etc) to yield a usable hydrocarbon product, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, as well as the treatment of crude oils, shale oils, and the tailings remaining after fractionation and like processes. The method comprises the steps of heating the hydrocarbon thereby to release a gas phase, contacting the gas with an aqueous persulphate electrolyte within a reaction chamber, and condensing the gas to a liquid or a liquid/gas mixture and removing its aqueous component. It also comprises subjecting the reaction product to an electrical field generated by at least two opposing electrode plates between which the reaction product flows; this electrolytic step regenerates the persulphate electrolyte which can be recirculated within the process. The process is ideally applied in an environment at lower than atmospheric pressure, such as less than 1500 Pa. A wide range of hydrocarbons can be treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as engine oils and sulphur-contaminated fuels are prime examples, but there are a wide range of others such as hydrocarbons derived from the pyrolysis of a material having a hydrocarbon content. One such example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils), which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above, and a residue that provides a useful solid fuel.

A method for bonding a fluid to a substance includes filling a first pressure vessel with the fluid and pressurizing the first pressure vessel to a first pressure. The fluid is the circulated through an electric arc formed within the first pressure vessel, thereby creating a treated fluid. Within a second pressure vessel, the substance is exposed to a magnetic field, thereby forming a polarized substance. The treated fluid and polarized substance are combined under a second pressure within a third pressure vessel, thereby exposing the treated fluid to the polarized substance at a pressure sufficient to achieve a bond.

A method for bonding a fluid to a substance includes filling a first pressure vessel with the fluid and pressurizing the first pressure vessel to a first pressure. The fluid is the circulated through an electric arc formed within the first pressure vessel, thereby creating a treated fluid. Within a second pressure vessel, the substance is exposed to a magnetic field, thereby forming a polarized substance. The treated fluid and polarized substance are combined under a second pressure within a third pressure vessel, thereby exposing the treated fluid to the polarized substance at a pressure sufficient to achieve a bond.

We disclose a process for purification of mixed hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as separating and recovering mixed polymer materials, refining used oils and fuels, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, to yield clean hydrocarbon distillates suitable for use as recycled feedstocks in chemical industries or as low sulphur fuels for motive use, as well as the treatment of crude oils, shale oils, and the tailings remaining after fractionation and like processes. The method comprises the steps of heating the hydrocarbon bearing material thereby to release a gas phase, contacting the gas with an aqueous persulphate electrolyte within a reaction chamber, and condensing the gas to a liquid or a liquid/gas mixture and removing its aqueous component. It also comprises subjecting the reaction product to an electrical field generated by at least two opposing electrode plates between which the reaction product flows; this electrolytic step regenerates the persulphate electrolyte which can be recirculated within the process. The process is ideally applied in an environment at lower than atmospheric pressure, such as less than 14000 Pa. A wide range of mixed materials and hydrocarbons can be separated and treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as mixed plastic packaging waste, industrial polymers, pyrolysis oils etc, are typical examples, but there are a wide range of other materials having a hydrocarbon content. One such prime example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils) etc, which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above to provide a carbon black residue that has extensive industrial uses.

We disclose a process for purification of mixed hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as separating and recovering mixed polymer materials, refining used oils and fuels, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, to yield clean hydrocarbon distillates suitable for use as recycled feedstocks in chemical industries or as low sulphur fuels for motive use, as well as the treatment of crude oils, shale oils, and the tailings remaining after fractionation and like processes. The method comprises the steps of heating the hydrocarbon bearing material thereby to release a gas phase, contacting the gas with an aqueous persulphate electrolyte within a reaction chamber, and condensing the gas to a liquid or a liquid/gas mixture and removing its aqueous component. It also comprises subjecting the reaction product to an electrical field generated by at least two opposing electrode plates between which the reaction product flows; this electrolytic step regenerates the persulphate electrolyte which can be recirculated within the process. The process is ideally applied in an environment at lower than atmospheric pressure, such as less than 14000 Pa. A wide range of mixed materials and hydrocarbons can be separated and treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as mixed plastic packaging waste, industrial polymers, pyrolysis oils etc, are typical examples, but there are a wide range of other materials having a hydrocarbon content. One such prime example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils) etc, which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above to provide a carbon black residue that has extensive industrial uses.

A process for removing metals in a petroleum oil material. The process comprises causing the petroleum oil material to react with a removing agent which comprises a phosphoric acid ester. A microwave irradiation environment was created during the reaction to provide the required energy essential for separating such contaminations from the oil chemical network. The process of the invention is applied at ambient pressure and low temperature compared to the conventional metal removal processes. The process of the invention can be readily scaled up and integrated into an industrial facility.