A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed, the process comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a de-asphalting column, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, where the de-asphalting column comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the de-asphalting column at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a residence time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, the polymerized asphaltenes precipitate from the carbonaceous material in the oil feed, and withdrawing a de-asphalted oil from the de-asphalting column, where the de-asphalted oil is in the absence of the heteropolyacids, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed, where the process for removing asphaltenes is in the absence of added hydrogen gas.

A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed, the process comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a de-asphalting column, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, where the de-asphalting column comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the de-asphalting column at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a residence time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, the polymerized asphaltenes precipitate from the carbonaceous material in the oil feed, and withdrawing a de-asphalted oil from the de-asphalting column, where the de-asphalted oil is in the absence of the heteropolyacids, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed, where the process for removing asphaltenes is in the absence of added hydrogen gas.

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.

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.

Methods for separation of oxygenates or other chemical components from fuels using chemical processes and separations including, but not limited to, onboard applications in vehicles. These separations may take place using a variety of materials and substances whereby a target material of interest is captured, held, and then released at a desired location and under desired conditions. In one set of experiments we demonstrated an enhancement in the separation of diaromatics by >38 times over gasoline and aromatics by >3.5 times over gasoline. This would give an advantage to reducing cold-start emissions, or emissions during transient conditions, in either gasoline or diesel.

Methods for separation of oxygenates or other chemical components from fuels using chemical processes and separations including, but not limited to, onboard applications in vehicles. These separations may take place using a variety of materials and substances whereby a target material of interest is captured, held, and then released at a desired location and under desired conditions. In one set of experiments we demonstrated an enhancement in the separation of diaromatics by >38 times over gasoline and aromatics by >3.5 times over gasoline. This would give an advantage to reducing cold-start emissions, or emissions during transient conditions, in either gasoline or diesel.

A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed, the process comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a de-asphalting column, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, where the de-asphalting column comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the de-asphalting column at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a residence time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, the polymerized asphaltenes precipitate from the carbonaceous material in the oil feed, and withdrawing a de-asphalted oil from the de-asphalting column, where the de-asphalted oil is in the absence of the heteropolyacids, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed, where the process for removing asphaltenes is in the absence of added hydrogen gas.

A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed, the process comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a de-asphalting column, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, where the de-asphalting column comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the de-asphalting column at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a residence time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, the polymerized asphaltenes precipitate from the carbonaceous material in the oil feed, and withdrawing a de-asphalted oil from the de-asphalting column, where the de-asphalted oil is in the absence of the heteropolyacids, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed, where the process for removing asphaltenes is in the absence of added hydrogen gas.

A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed, the process comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a de-asphalting column, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, where the de-asphalting column comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the de-asphalting column at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a residence time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, the polymerized asphaltenes precipitate from the carbonaceous material in the oil feed, and withdrawing a de-asphalted oil from the de-asphalting column, where the de-asphalted oil is in the absence of the heteropolyacids, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed, where the process for removing asphaltenes is in the absence of added hydrogen gas.

A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed, the process comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a de-asphalting column, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, where the de-asphalting column comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the de-asphalting column at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a residence time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, the polymerized asphaltenes precipitate from the carbonaceous material in the oil feed, and withdrawing a de-asphalted oil from the de-asphalting column, where the de-asphalted oil is in the absence of the heteropolyacids, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed, where the process for removing asphaltenes is in the absence of added hydrogen gas.