The invention relates to a method of separating and purifying products from a high pressure processing system adapted for processing a feed stream comprising carbonaceous material at a pressure of at least 150 bar and a temperature of at least 300 C., where the converted feed stream (product mixture) is cooled to a temperature in the range 50 to 250 C., and depressurized to a pressure in the range 1 to 150 bar, the method comprising separating the depressurized product mixture in gas phase, an oil phase (liquid hydrocarbon), and a water phase comprising water soluble organics, dissolved salts and optionally suspended particles in a first phase separator and purifying the oil phase from the first phase separator by mixing it with one or more washing agents, at least one of which comprises water, and separating the oil phase from the one or more washing agents in a further separation step.

The present technology provides a process that includes heating a first mixture of elemental sulfur and particles comprising an alkali metal sulfide in a liquid hydrocarbon to a temperature of at least 150 C., to provide a sulfur-treated mixture comprising agglomerated particles; and separating the agglomerated particles from the sulfur-treated mixture to provide a desulfurized liquid hydrocarbon and separated solids. This process may be used as part of a suite of processes for desulfurizing liquid hydrocarbons contaminated with organosulfur compounds and other heteroatom-based contaminants. The present technology further provides processes for converting carbon-rich solids (e.g., petroleum coke) into fuels.

The present technology provides a process that includes heating a first mixture of elemental sulfur and particles comprising an alkali metal sulfide in a liquid hydrocarbon to a temperature of at least 150 C., to provide a sulfur-treated mixture comprising agglomerated particles; and separating the agglomerated particles from the sulfur-treated mixture to provide a desulfurized liquid hydrocarbon and separated solids. This process may be used as part of a suite of processes for desulfurizing liquid hydrocarbons contaminated with organosulfur compounds and other heteroatom-based contaminants. The present technology further provides processes for converting carbon-rich solids (e.g., petroleum coke) into fuels.

The invention relates to a method of separating and purifying products from a hydrothermal and/or solvothermal conversion process of carbonaceous material adapted to convert a feed stream comprising carbonaceous material at a pressure of at least 100 bar and a temperature of at least 300? C., where the converted feed stream (product mixture) comprises a mixture of CO.sub.2 containing gas, an oil phase, an aqueous phase comprising water soluble organics and dissolved salts, and inorganic solid phase; where the product mixture is cooled to a temperature in the range 40 to 250? C., and depressurized to a pressure in the range 1 to 30 bar, the method comprisingseparating a gas comprising CO.sub.2 from the product mixture in a degasser such as a flash separator, andseparating a water phase from the at least partly degassed converted feed mixture in a first separation step of the separation, and adding washing agents in the form of an acidifying agent and a diluent to the at least partly degassed and at least partly dewatched product mixture, and separating the mixture with added washing agents into an oil rich phase, a water rich phase and a solid rich phase in a second step of the separation process, and further at least partly recovering the diluent from the oil rich phase.

The invention relates to a method of separating and purifying products from a hydrothermal and/or solvothermal conversion process of carbonaceous material adapted to convert a feed stream comprising carbonaceous material at a pressure of at least 100 bar and a temperature of at least 300? C., where the converted feed stream (product mixture) comprises a mixture of CO.sub.2 containing gas, an oil phase, an aqueous phase comprising water soluble organics and dissolved salts, and inorganic solid phase; where the product mixture is cooled to a temperature in the range 40 to 250? C., and depressurized to a pressure in the range 1 to 30 bar, the method comprisingseparating a gas comprising CO.sub.2 from the product mixture in a degasser such as a flash separator, andseparating a water phase from the at least partly degassed converted feed mixture in a first separation step of the separation, and adding washing agents in the form of an acidifying agent and a diluent to the at least partly degassed and at least partly dewatched product mixture, and separating the mixture with added washing agents into an oil rich phase, a water rich phase and a solid rich phase in a second step of the separation process, and further at least partly recovering the diluent from the oil rich phase.

Metal naphthenate is removed from a crude hydrocarbon mixture by a process. The process includes mixing the crude hydrocarbon mixture comprising metal naphthenate with an acid in the presence of water, wherein the acid converts the metal naphthenate to naphthenic acid and metal salt; allowing the metal salt to partition into a water phase; and separating the crude heavy hydrocarbon mixture comprising naphthenic acid and the water phase comprising the metal salt.

Metal naphthenate is removed from a crude hydrocarbon mixture by a process. The process includes mixing the crude hydrocarbon mixture comprising metal naphthenate with an acid in the presence of water, wherein the acid converts the metal naphthenate to naphthenic acid and metal salt; allowing the metal salt to partition into a water phase; and separating the crude heavy hydrocarbon mixture comprising naphthenic acid and the water phase comprising the metal salt.

A system for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization having at least one reaction subsystem including at least one high intensity mixer and a stripping station. Multiple reaction subsystems can be utilized. A method is likewise disclosed for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization.

A process, a system, and an apparatus for separation of an oxygenate from a stream is provided. More specifically, a stream comprising the oxygenate is introduced to a quench tower along with a caustic outlet stream comprising a metal salt. Contact between the oxygenate and the metal salt results in conversion of a portion of the oxygenate into a derivative salt. The derivative salt and unconverted oxygenate are condensed by quenching and substantially removed from the quench tower as an oxygenate outlet stream. The gaseous components of the stream, minus a substantial portion of the oxygenate, are removed from the quench tower as a quench outlet stream.

A process, a system, and an apparatus for separation of an oxygenate from a stream is provided. More specifically, a stream comprising the oxygenate is introduced to a quench tower along with a caustic outlet stream comprising a metal salt. Contact between the oxygenate and the metal salt results in conversion of a portion of the oxygenate into a derivative salt. The derivative salt and unconverted oxygenate are condensed by quenching and substantially removed from the quench tower as an oxygenate outlet stream. The gaseous components of the stream, minus a substantial portion of the oxygenate, are removed from the quench tower as a quench outlet stream.