The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass to produce aqueous and organic products using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.

The present invention provides processes for catalytic deconstruction of biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.

The present invention provides methods, reactor systems and catalysts for converting biomass and biomass-derived feedstocks to C.sub.8+ hydrocarbons using heterogenous catalysts. The product stream may be separated and further processed for use in chemical applications, or as a neat fuel or a blending component in jet fuel and diesel fuel, or as heavy oils for lubricant and/or fuel oil applications.

It has been discovered that metals and/or amines can be removed or transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble hydroxyacids. Suitable water-soluble hydroxyacids include, but are not necessarily limited to glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alpha-hydroxy acids, poly-hydroxy carboxylic acids, thioglycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, polymeric forms of the above hydroxyacids, poly-glycolic esters, glycolate ethers, and ammonium salt and alkali metal salts of these hydroxyacids, and mixtures thereof. The composition may also include at least one mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. A solvent may be optionally included in the composition. The invention permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom.

The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass to produce aqueous and organic products using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.

The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.

The application provides a method for simultaneously removing oxygen-containing compounds and aromatics from high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthetic light oil, comprising: subjecting the light oil and a composite extractant to a countercurrent single-stage or multi-stage extraction process in an extraction equipment, to obtain a raffinate phase stream, and an extract phase stream of oxygen-containing compounds+aromatics; washing the raffinate phase stream with water, to obtain a raffinate oil stream, from which oxygen-containing compounds and aromatics have been removed, and a water stream containing a small amount of extractants; and subjecting the extract phase stream to an extractive distillation process, to obtain a recycled stream rich in alkanes and olefins and a recycled solvent-rich stream, and carrying out a regeneration cycle on the solvent-rich stream through a solvent recovery tower and a regeneration distillation tower. Oxygen-containing compounds, and aromatics in the light oil are removed together.

Embodiments of the invention include apparatus and systems for hydrocarbon synthesis and methods regarding the same. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for creating a hydrocarbon product stream comprising reacting a reaction mixture in the presence of a catalyst inside of a reaction vessel to form a product mixture, the reaction mixture comprising a carbon source and water. The temperature inside the reaction vessel can be between 450 degrees Celsius and 600 degrees Celsius and the pressure inside the reaction vessel can be above supercritical pressure for water. In an embodiment, the invention includes an extrusion reactor system for creating a hydrocarbon product stream. The temperature inside the extrusion reactor housing between 450 degrees Celsius and 600 degrees Celsius. Pressure inside the reaction vessel can be above supercritical pressure for water. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A process for extracting bitumen from oil sand ore to produce a bitumen froth having reduced solids is provided, comprising mixing the oil sand ore with water and a first process aid comprising at least one surfactant to form an oil sand slurry; conditioning the oil sand slurry to produce a conditioned oil sand slurry; and introducing the conditioned oil sand slurry into a separation zone for forming the bitumen froth having reduced solids.

The present invention relates to in situ methods of separating, refining and extracting hydrocarbons from an oil formation. In embodiments of the present invention the in situ methods includes: (a) making a perforation in the oil sand formation, (b) disposing a non-polar substance into the perforation without addition of polar fluid, (c) subjecting the non-polar fluid composition disposed in the perforation to ultrasonic vibrations, and (d) extracting the hydrocarbon from the perforation in the oil sand formation. The present invention relates also to methods of separating, refining and extracting hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon matrices such as oil sand or oil shale.