Systems and Methods for Managing Asphaltenes and Aromatics

Abstract

Refinement of asphaltene products (e.g. roof shingles) derived either from synthetic usages as well as naturally occurring crude oil in formation that has asphaltene content, is disclosed. The refinement has no need for any energy to be applied, in contrast with methods that produce pyrolytic oil from shingles. The refinement with PRIF derives a certain amount oil per ton of asphaltene product pyrolyzed and, how much by products can also be cleanly recycled, and how each of those constituents can be reused in the multiple ways. A pyrolytic oil-separation process but doing so while consuming minimal energy is disclosed. One intent is remanufacturing asphalt based products back into their natural constituents.

Claims

1. A method of reforming Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) containing asphaltenes and aromatics into re-usable components using a Proton-Rich Ionic Fluid (PRIF), comprising: configuring a reactor with a plurality of tanks, pumps, static mixers, and recirculators; the reactor accepting a water-based input fluid and a plurality of predetermined components; the reactor breaking covalent bonds in the water-based input fluid thereby separating out oxygen and electrons and isolating the remaining H.sub.1+ protons into free single protons; the reactor adjusting the water-based input fluid to have an abundance H.sub.1+ protons and reduction in oxygen and electrons; thereby transforming the water-based input fluid into the PRIF; soaking the MSW in the PRIF for a predetermined time period; separating the solid components of the MSW from the liquid components; drying the solid components; and purifying the liquids components of the MSW into reformed crude oil.

2. The method of claim 1, the MSW comprising roofing shingles.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the step of soaking further comprising achieving chemical deposition of free H.sub.1+ protons onto the MSW.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: factoring that synthetic asphaltenes differing from natural asphaltenes by having more O and H components and having longer molecules than natural asphaltenes; and the PRIF de-watering both synthetic and normal asphaltenes.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising: the PRIF de-oxygenating crude oil.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: the PRIF de-oxygenating synthetic asphaltenes.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising: the PRIF chemically hydrocracking long-chain hydrocarbons into short-chain hydrocarbons using its plurality of H.sub.1+ protons.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising: combining PRIF with MSW containing a predetermined start-amount of asphaltenes, and the PRIF reforming the MSW into recycled oil partly by reducing asphaltenes.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: the predetermined start-amount of asphaltenes within the MSW being 3% by mass.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: an end-mount of asphaltenes within the MSW being between 0.7-1.5%.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: the end-mount of asphaltenes in the naturally occurring crude oil being between 0.7-1.5%.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: the step of performing reforming on the MSW resulting in synthetic oil at STP with no heat-energy and no electrical energy being added.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising: converting roughly 1 ton of hydrocarbon-based MSW and reforming the MSW into to 2 barrels of crude oil, without any additional energy applied.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: achieving low cost reforming and low cost recycling; and lowering power consumption using power derived through the potential energy inherently contained within H.sub.1+ protons within the PRIF.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: the step of reforming achieving an API lift of 20-25% on the resulting oil.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: the step of reforming achieving an increase in aromatics of 20-25% on the resulting recycled oil.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: the step of reforming achieving an increase in aromatics of 20-25% on the resulting natural occurring crude oil.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] FIGS. 1A and 1B show non-limiting arrangements of reactor systems for producing a Proton-Rich Ionic Fluid (PRIF) according to the embodiments herein;

[0011] FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B show example methods of operation of the reactor systems of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

[0012] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6A, 6B, and 6C show detail of one or more recirculators;

[0013] FIGS. 7A-7B-7C show contrasting arrangements of alternate embodiments of reactor the systems;

[0014] FIG. 7D shows a recirculator using information from a testing module;

[0015] FIG. 8 shows an overall (non-limiting) process approximating some steps in a shingle study;

[0016] FIG. 9 shows the PRIF being added into a beaker that will contain a mixture of PRIF+ other components used to soak the shingles;

[0017] FIG. 10 shows a separator funnel used to remove water from reformed oil;

[0018] FIG. 11 shows post-study solids that were obtained during the study process;

[0019] FIG. 12 shows post-study fiberglass obtained during the study process;

[0020] FIG. 13 (concentric) shows a display of various beneficial changes caused by the PRIF;

[0021] FIG. 14 shows synthetically modified petroleum asphaltenes compared with naturally occurring asphaltenes; and

[0022] FIG. 15 shows asphaltene-aromatic test results using the PRIF.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A lot of terminology will be used in this disclosure. In an effort to reduce jargon and slang, some remarks on language-semantics are appropriate.

Language-Semantics

[0024] Commercial usages of the embodiments herein are aimed at a marketplace that is acclimated to expressions with the word pyrolytic e.g., pyrolytic oil. While the embodiments herein are non-pyrolytic, one customer-base is municipal waste facilities that are accustomed to discussing commerce using a context of pyrolytic. Thus, this disclosure will sometimes refer to non-pyrolytic or pyrolytic-adjacent embodiments. This semantic is employed because one market-space targeted by the embodiments herein largely involves pyrolytic conversion in one context or another, so as an introduction it is sometimes necessary to use the word pyrolytic.

[0025] At the same time, the embodiments herein may be suitable for use with actual pyrolytic oil, but where the embodiments reform that pyrolytic oil into an improved higher API version. The embodiments herein can replace pyrolysis, or can work with sludgy low-API oils produced by pyrolysis. Thus, the word pyrolysis will be asserted in this disclosure in a variety of different contexts.

[0026] The embodiments herein recite at least one pyrolytic oil-separation process but doing so while requiring minimal and potentially zero external energy be applied. This statement could cover a large spectrum, but herein will be confined to usages related to remanufacturing asphalt-based products and restoring them back into their natural constituents. IOW, this disclosure will focus on asphaltene content and the reduction of asphaltenes in any final mixture, but will also discuss how many times during this process the aromatics in the oil phase are increased yielding a complete upgrade of the crude oil, recycled oil, pyrolytic oil, non-pyrolytic oil, or pyrolytic-adjacent oil derived due to the introduction and mixing of the PRIF 140. These various semantics are needed because there are a variety of places the PRIF 140 can be introduced.

[0027] This ends the section on word-semantics.

[0028] FIG. 1A shows an example system 100 for producing a proton-rich PRIF (PRIF) 140. The system 100 converts a common hydrogen-based input fluid 101 to the PRIF 140 comprising an overabundance of hydrogen H.sub.1+ atoms, mainly just protons since atomic hydrogen does not have a neutron and the electron has been peeled off. This conversion occurs in the absence of elevated temperatures or pressures, so that the resulting PRIF 140 is suitable for shipping or storage at Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP, AKA Normal Temperature and Pressure NTP). One example period of reliable shelf-life of the PRIF 140 might be 36 months, although there could be examples of even longer shelf-life, depending on the specific formulation.

[0029] The input fluid 101 may be one of various commonly-found hydrogen-donating fluids or mixes of multiple hydrogen-donating fluids, and can also be dirty water, fracked water, and/or processed water. A non-limiting list of potential types of hydrogen-donating fluids can be found in an Appendix A to this disclosure, titled EXAMPLE HYDROGEN-DONATING INPUT FLUIDS 101.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an example system 100 and flowchart includes a first tank 104, a second tank 108, a third tank 112, and corresponding recirculators 104r, 108r, 112r. Both first and second tanks 104\108 comprise recirculators 104r\108r, pump 104p\108p, and windings or inductor coils 104cs\108cs. Both first and second tanks pump out intermediate fluids 104f\108f that has been partially-processed and is on its way to becoming the Proton Rich Ionic Fluid (PRIF) 140. FIG. 1B shows a fourth tank 114 which acts as a potential overflow tank, or storage tank, or other way of assisting in management of PRIF 140 during or after a production run thereof. In the flowcharts of FIGS. 1A-1B, all activity flows from left to right.

[0031] The tanks 104\108 have the circumferential windings 104cs\108cs applied to their outer surface thereby forming a reaction zone. The windings 104cs\108cs can be formed with stranded wire or other types of windings to act as a large-scale inductor coil. FIG. 1B also shows a seal 141 on the tank, and a detector 150. The tanks 104/108/112 can be operated at NTP/STP, but for detecting various gaseous components, the seal 141 could be helpful in trapping and capturing. The detector 150 can capture a lot of different components, as will be discussed in more detail herein.

[0032] The circumferential windings or inductor coils 104cs\108cs may be electrically coupled to a power supply so as to be electrically coupled to either alternating or direct current at a variety of frequencies. An amount of insulation on the wires and tanks, spacing between specific windings, and wire gauge all may vary according to a desired outcome.

[0033] The pumps 104p\108p are coupled to the recirculators 104r\108r which have magnetic modules 508 in various orientations attached thereto. However, the magnetic modules 508 can come in a lot of widely differing formats, of which the embodiments shown in the various Figures herein are but non-limiting examples.

[0034] The activity within the reactor system(s) 100 result in removing electrons from the input fluid in such a way that the resulting PRIF becomes electron-deficient. This PRIF 140 can remain electron deficient at STP for varying periods, e.g. having a shelf-life of 36 months.

[0035] The circumferential windings 104cs\108cs can have a variety of voltages and currents applied thereto. The voltage applied to the windings 104cs may be equal to that applied to the windings 108cs, or may not. Further, a voltage may be applied to one set of windings but not the other, and polarity may be altered.

[0036] A pre-determined wattage for the circumferential windings 104cs\108cs can be selected based on the chemical constituents of the input fluid 101, a desired configuration of the PRIF 140, ambient temperature, volume of end-product, and other factors. As current moves through windings 104cs\108cs, a corresponding magnetic field directed perpendicularly to windings 104cs\108cs applies a magnetostatic force to liquid 101 while being circulated through the tanks 104\108 for a predetermined period of time until the outlet fluid 104f\108f is transferred via e.g. to the 3.sup.rd tank 112.

[0037] The magnetostatic forces applied to the windings 104cs\108cs can be adjusted between 2,000-80,000 Gauss, with 20,000-80,000 Gauss being a preferred range. When outlet openings 104f and 108f are opened, the fluids 104f\108f are combined into the third tank 112 which comprises a recirculator 112r and pump 112p. Once the fluid from both first tank 104 and second tank 108 are combined into the third tank 112, the combination is pumped and recirculated within the third tank 112.

[0038] Unlike the first tank 104 or second tank 108, third tank 112 does not have a circumferential windings, and therefore experiences no electrostatic effects. Instead, the third tank 112 experiences an oscillating magnetic field through the recirculator 112r due to the magnetic-modules 508 attached thereto.

[0039] During operation of the system 100, some oxygen vapes off, and goes away in a variety of forms. This is due to the fact that one purpose of the system 100 is to break the covalent bonds of a water molecule, separate out the oxygen\electrons and drive them off (prevent them from re-combining), and thus isolate protons in the form of H.sub.1+. One reason this can be done at low power is because a typical water molecule is known to be a strong dipole, meaning some of the H can be separated from the O just by mechanical forces, some of which occur within the recirculators 104r/108r/112r.

[0040] The sensors 150 are used to affirm proper performance of the system 100, including temperature. In tank 104 there may be a slight exotherm 20-30 degrees F. based on which proton donor was used within the input fluid 101. Content of the specific chosen input fluid 101 can affect this, due to clean water v. dirty water v. produced water or other type of effluent source (see Appendix A).

[0041] Oxygen may gas off maybe 2-3% in overall mass difference, perhaps in the format of O2 but also in other formats. Various oxygen radicals are formed during production-use of the system 100, mostly oxygen based salts, which can vary according to a wide variety of conditions including but not limited to the content of the input fluid 101. These salts end up getting excreted through the back-end portion 170 of the system 100.

[0042] In a lower-cost embodiment, the detector 150 can be focused mainly on CO2 and O2, which both have special significance in hydrogen generation. However, the detector 150 can have wider scope, depending on manufacturing considerations and end-customer preferences.

[0043] If the input fluid 101 contains sulfuric acid, that can lead to sulfate salts, colloidal sulfur, and/or sulfur dioxide. Meanwhile, produced water tends to result in carbonates, oxides, and chloride salts. Acetic acid can lead to acetate salts.

[0044] The semicircle 170 represents a combination of filters, precipitate catch mechanisms, and or hydrocyclone, which may catch any of the below. That is, a non-limiting list of specific oxygen radicals and salts (either gas or solid) given off during use of the system 100 can include but are not limited to:

TABLE-US-00001 hydroxide salts (_OH); carbonate salts (_CO3); sulfate salts (_SO4); nitric salts (_NO3); dioxides (_O2), the most of important of which is CO2; acetates (_CH3COO); and alkoxides (_COH alcohol salts).

[0045] The proton-donating input fluid 101 (Appendix A) can comprise many different blends and even different waters and oils thus any of these will have different sludges and precipitates.

[0046] FIGS. 2 and 3A-3B show example methods of operation of the reactor systems of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Regarding the flowchart of FIG. 3A, in an embodiment, the second tank 108 might have twice the capacity of the first tank 104. An example operation of the flowchart of FIG. 3A might be where the tanks 104/108 are filled up with the input fluid 101 in equal proportions, and processed separately. The recirculators 104r/108r (not shown in FIG. 3A) could be set to opposite polarities. Then, the contents of tank 104 could be put into second tank 108 for further processing for predetermined time periods.

[0047] The second tank 108 might have the following elements added which may not be in the first tank 104: flocculants, polyacrylamides, ferric sulfates, and/or gypsum. An additional variation might be to add alcohol to the input of the first tank 104.

[0048] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6A, 6B, and 6C show detail of the recirculators 104r, 108r, and 112r, which are sometimes referred to as static mixers. As shown at least within FIGS. 4A-4C, each recirculator can be formed as an elongated translucent tube that has movable internal fluting 404 (AKA baffle) located therein. The recirculators 104r, 108r, and 112r further comprise a grommet 420 at each end, along with threaded surfaces so that they may be connected in series. The internal fluting 404 aids in restraining fluid flowing through the tubes 416 thereby forming a type of reaction zone in which covalent bonds can be broken, and heterolysis can occur (FIG. 2). Each internal fluting 404 can be formed with a plurality of grommets 420 that can be concatenated to one another so as to form a chain structure if desired. The fluting 404 is important because it can mechanically break or at least strain the covalent bonds holding water together. It is an advantage of the embodiments herein to break the covalent bonds of the water with as little energy as possible. The fluting 404 leverages the fact that water molecule has weak dipole, a weak covalent bond.

[0049] FIG. 4B shows example windings 424 and inductor coils 428 embedded within the plexiglass body (tube 416) of a recirculator. These coils 428 are configurable at a variety of polarities and electromagnetic capabilities. FIG. 4C shows another example of inductor-patterning, where an inductive mechanism 432 is configured in a rear window defogger serpentine configuration.

[0050] FIG. 5A shows an example recirculator with magnets 509 taped on. FIG. 5B shows an example of rectangular magnet 509 that is polarized in a way different than a domino magnet. FIG. 5C shows a recirculator with a slidable adjustable mechanical magnet-cuff 460. FIG. 5D shows a recirculator with a slidable adjustable electrical inductor-cuff 460.

[0051] The system 100 is designed to work in a variety of locations and climates, and with widely varying quality of water including unknown salinity, unknown metal content, unknown viscosity, and unknown level of pollutants. Accordingly, the magnetic modules 508 would be tunable and subject to continual adjustment. The system 100 may be used in remote areas where spare parts may be inaccessible, and may receive what small amounts of power it needs, from solar devices or off-grid devices that have varying levels of reliability. The magnetic modules 508 will have a lot of flexibility and adjustability, both mechanically and also electronically.

[0052] Moving to FIG. 5A, within any particular recirculator, the plurality of magnetic modules 508 are arranged circumferentially about the outer surface of the tube 416 and periodically located its length. In some embodiments, a magnet pack 508 is formed with one or more static bar-magnets 509 that define opposite polarities often denoted as a North and South.

[0053] The magnetic modules 508 are arranged on an outer surface of the tube 416 in specific ways. One example arrangement is where each North pole side may be facing e.g. radially inwardly, toward the center of tube 416. In this arrangement, each South pole side of a magnet or magnet group 509 would then face radially outwardly from an outer surface of the tube 416. The specific size, shape, and orientation of the individual magnets 509 can vary. FIG. 5B shows an example magnet 509 having a non-domino shape, but that is for example only.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, in operation, input fluid 101 is piped into tanks 104\108 until at least partially filled. The tanks 104\108 will have a predetermined wattages applied through their respective windings 104cs\108cs for predetermined time periods, often at least 45 minutes. Often, current applied through the circumferential windings 104cs\108cs may be between 5-100 amps at a wattage between 60-1200 watts, with 100 amps at 1,000 watts being advantageous. FIG. 3B shows another way of interpreting the flow within the system 100

[0055] During use, the recirculating pumps 104p\108p move the input fluid 101 through the tanks 104\108 via the recirculators 104r\108r. These in turn apply a uniform static magnetic field to input liquid 101 via the magnets 508.

[0056] A polarity applied to the recirculator 104r may be opposite the polarity applied recirculator 108r. In one embodiment, recirculator 104r will be set with North pole sides 193 facing radially inwardly applying a total of 46,000 Gauss to input liquid 101, while the recirculator 108r will be set with South pole sides facing radially inwardly thereby applying a total of 46,000-58,000 Gauss to the input liquid 101.

[0057] Continuing this example, constant recirculation of the input fluid 101 from the tanks 104\108 through recirculators 104r\108r causes a non-transitory polar imbalance in the input liquid 101 resulting from breaking the weak dipole known to be present in water. The differences in fluid velocities within recirculators 104r\108r thus creates a separation and segregation of atomic hydrogen H.sub.1+ within the input fluid 101.

[0058] The reactor system(s) 100 can be operated with a variety of ranges and thus have a lot of configurability and ability to be customized for specific types of production runs of the PRIF 140, and also can be adapted to specific types of input fluid 101. As stated, typically, the input fluid 101 will be a hydrogen-donating fluid such as shown in Appendix A. Further, each of the first, second, and third recirculators 104r\108r\112r can separately apply a pre-configured magnetic field to the fluid circulating therein, therefore creating a separate proton-rich vortex within each of the plurality of tanks 104\108\112. These pre-configured magnetic fields can be adjusted applied by the recirculators can be auto-adjusting. Further, if the right levels of intermediate fluids 104f\108f are occurring, the magnetic fields can be shut off entirely.

[0059] The specific magnetic field applied may vary according to characteristics of the input fluid 101. A key factor is that heterolysis (FIG. 2) occurs and breaks the covalent bonds in the water-portions of the input fluid. Subjecting the input fluid 101 to a magnetic field provides a low-cost non-CO.sub.2-creating way of doing this.

[0060] FIGS. 6A-6C show example recirculators 104r/108r/112r and FIG. 6C shows a testing module 704 that can affect production of the PRIF 140 in real-time. Under the right circumstances, the inductors of FIG. 6C can be re-oriented in a variety of patterns and polarities, hence the question-marks of FIG. 6C. The recirculator of FIG. 6C is patterned to look similar to FIG. 6B, which shows static magnets with known fixed polarities, but that is for illustration-only and the embodiments herein should not be considered as limited exclusively thereto. Instead, FIG. 6C should be interpreted to borrow from the example of FIG. 6B, but expand it to show a variety of configurations and adjustable features including not being committed to a specific polarity.

[0061] The embodiment of FIG. 6C shows a test module 704 and columns of magnetic modules 508 that can be changed depending on feedback from the test module. The testing module 704 of FIG. 6C and FIG. 7D can sense breaking of covalent bonds, other factors, and can adjust magnetic or electromagnetic fields and polarities in order to achieve a desired content of PRIF 140.

[0062] The testing module 704 can comprise a mass gas analyzer, ammonia or peroxide analyzers, and potentially API testing. API testing can include high-resolution mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), and stability testing.

[0063] FIGS. 7A-7B-7C show contrasting arrangements in which potential alternate embodiments of the system 100 can include a 2-tank rather than 3-tank system 100. FIG. 7D shows another alternative routing within the system 100 including the testing module 704 that may optionally make decisions on sending fluid back to earlier tanks for further processing.

[0064] This ends the discussion of how to make the PRIF 140.

[0065] Roof shingles are typically created from asphalt-based bottom-of-barrel crude. Contaminants within roofing shingles can include but are not limited to e.g. fiberglass, polymers (e.g. glue), and aggregates (solids). The type of crude used in shingles that has only minimal usages due to its low API, poor viscosity, and overall non-workability in other contexts. Consequently, it became important to see what the PRIF 140 would do to asphalt shingles when mixed to better understand its chemical interactions with asphaltenes in a controlled environment, prior to using in other more complex methods such as downhole crude oil conditions. This in turn helps affirm the best and most appropriate usage of PRIF 140, that is, where to insert PRIF 140 and when.

[0066] Accordingly, a low-cost roof-shingle study is shown in FIGS. 8-12. In this study, the embodiments dissolve common roof-asphalt shingles using the PRIF 140 either with or without surfactants or other solvents or surfactants (FIG. 8), depending on the base material being reformed/recovered. This shows compatibility with other well-known surfactants which may or may not add to efficiencies, and then observing the byproducts and resulting oil produced. In doing so, one can obtain a partial assessment of what would happen in other high asphaltene environments such as thicker crude oil or other less favorable hydrocarbon types which typically must go through a hydrocracker to be upgraded. Since the roof shingle-testing was successful, that opened the door to suggest doing the same on other asphaltenes products where oil upgraded with hydrocarbon oil can be made and reused.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows an overall (non-limiting) process approximating some steps in the shingle study. FIG. 9 shows the PRIF 140 being added into a beaker that will contain a mixture of PRIF+other components used to soak the shingles. FIG. 10 shows a separator funnel 10004 used to remove water from reformed oil FIG. 11 shows post-study solids that were obtained during the study process. FIG. 12 shows post-study fiberglass obtained during the study process. All of the products withing FIGS. 10-12 are re-usable and suitable for re-combination in various products. No heat, electricity, or other energy was applied to obtain these results.

[0068] Combining PRIF within natural crude in downhole formation or above ground in pipeline or refinement could reduce asphaltenes by as much as 87%. The shingle-study showed asphaltene-content starts out at 3%. Use of PRIF usually got it down from 3% to 0.5-1%. This can be as much as 87% reduction of the total amount of original asphaltenes, with an API lift of 10-25%. As such, a starting API of the base component can range anywhere from 14-18 and after treatment end at 20-25 API.

[0069] FIG. 13 (concentric) shows a display of various beneficial changes caused by the PRIF 140. FIG. 13 is arranged in a before-after sequence, in which a compound containing asphaltenes has PRIF 140 added thereto. The geometry of FIG. 13 (not to scale) is to show how the asphaltene band gets thinner after adding PRIF 140, and the aromatic band gets thicker.

[0070] Testing PRIF on natural (non-recycled) crude a side reaction resulted in an aromatic increase range between 23%-30%. The API lift showed that this is not only due to asphaltene decrease but also due to overall aromatic content increase. This combination also resulted in the overall higher API in the natural crude oil being tested (whether derived from shingles or otherwise). This shows that not only synthetic or chemically altered asphaltene products can be upgraded, but also that natural-occurring crude oil with a high asphaltene content can be upgraded.

[0071] The ability to use almost no energy with the PRIF is partly due to the potential of energy that is inherently stored in the PRIF liquid. In creating the PRIF 140, 5-8 Kilowatt hours of energy are consumed in order to create a one-kilogram sample of hydrogen gas. One Kg of H2 gas is known to contain 33.6 Kilowatt hours of energy. Thus, the PRIF 140 carries a delta energy content of approximately 27 Kilowatt hours of energy. Such a large delta permits these chemical interactions with asphaltenes needing almost zero external energy. This in turn achieves a reduction of asphaltenes and increase in aromatics during conversion back to crude oil. This delta of potential energy provided to the chemical interaction by the PRIF allows for this upgrading and repurposing of the crude oil or synthetic asphaltene energy efficiently, far more efficiently than conventional pyrolysis.

[0072] As known in the recycling world, pyrolysis is a recycling term for converting Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) e.g. wood chips, soya bean husk, corn husk, shingles, tar paper and many other common household and industrial waste products. These are typically super-heated to breakdown into their carbon and hydrogen components and catalyzed into a hydrocarbon material. Some can become pyrolytic oil and some can become bio-char.

[0073] This disclosure will focus on the quality of pyrolytic and pyrolytic-adjacent components. Pyrolytic oil may have a very low API e.g. 7-8, typically because of the abundance of carbon and a lack of hydrogen. Conventionally, this gas mixture produced by excessive heat in the pyrolytic chamber is forced through a Fischer-Tropsch process which grabs all the carbons and whatever straggling hydrogens, to convert the gas mixture to a form of pyrolytic oil. This usually leaves a very thick, high-viscosity, low API oil, which is called pyrolytic oil, and can also be called recycled oil depending on its starting material. However, use of the PRIF changes this for the better due to the abundance of H.sub.1+ protons ready and available to do work and the abundance of potential energy therein.

[0074] The embodiments herein are superior because with the PRIF 140, the usage of heat is almost zero. This allows for a non-thermal low energy non-pyrolytic process. PRIF-conversion requires no applications above 120-degree for additional energy, unlike conventional pyrolytic conversion. One can accelerate the process if the material is brought between 100-120 F. The outcome produces an oil composition of lower asphaltenes and higher aromatic with a higher API, at a greatly reduced cost. There is no need to heat tons of dense MSW to >=2000 F.

[0075] The embodiments herein also show that enhanced pyrolytic oil is available due to the potential energy that's released when PRIF is mixed with recycled products or natural crudes to convert them into a pyrolytic oil or upgraded crude. Typically, this is an energy-intense process, but not when using the PRIF 140 due to its internal potential energy and abundance of H.sub.1+ protons.

Problems with Existing Non-Biodegradable Waste Disposal Arrangements (e.g. Tar Paper and Asphalt Roof Shingles)

[0076] Assume a municipal waste site has received 400 acres of shingles. A big mountain of heavy MSW in that city dump. Typically, in a separate pile there will be tar paper, any type of reading material, hard paper, 30-pound paper, 100-pound paper. The municipal waste sites grind it, it comes off a belt, and drops into a furnace like heater to gasify.

[0077] Such a furnace like heater incurs huge energy costs. Then, that waste site may perhaps sell the contaminants to road companies who mix it with some solvents. They might introduce hydrocarbon by-products, turn it into asphalt, bring it up to 2000 degrees. This could be suitable for road-repair doing e.g. chip seal where they spray it on roads. A lot of that oil is recycled sludge, the least-sellable and least-usable output of a refinery.

[0078] This is an expensive and sub-optimal business model. Accordingly, waste disposal people may request e.g. $90/ton or more to remove or reuse or process the waste-shingles. When considering the energy loss and all the extra regulatory issues, the PRIF 140 is a far superior more cost-effective safe solution to handle the high amount of existing non-biodegradable hydrocarbon-based wastes.

[0079] Continuing this hypothetical municipal waste site as a PRIF example, the site does grinding on the MSW, and stores in big rack tanks. Using the embodiments herein, one could dissolve the MSW materials simply by submerging in a large basin with PRIF, and set up a simple Weir system. Weir tanks are above ground liquid storage tanks. Weir tanks are built to clarify liquid streams by separating and settling solids before the filtration or discharge process.

[0080] In the present embodiments, use of Weir tanks allows for the oil to float to the top and go to an adjacent tank. This leaves behind the PRIF 140 and sinking contaminants allowing for the final Weir tank to be predominantly recycled oil, and then allow that recycled oil to be skimmed and put into an oil storage tank, and sold. The oil goes to the top and floats across the Weir system again allowing for a low energy, ease of separation process. Doing so reduces energy cost and selling a higher API crude.

[0081] Since the PRIF is non-toxic, the remaining dry solids comprise a non-environmental hazard waste, so these could be thrown into a regular municipal waste dump, or can be resold as recycled material (assuming someone wants to go through and dry it and separate the by-products).

[0082] The embodiments herein greatly simplify and de-risk any MSW process. In doing so, the embodiments herein reduce the amount of non-biodegradable waste, but without energy and without another hazards. Chemistries exist that can melt asphalt shingles, but these processes are usually heavily toxic and expensive. Also, some of the chemistry has potential to end up in the natural water table through leaching.

[0083] Conversely, even if PRIF had an accident during an oil-treatment recovery process, the result will still be non-toxic, containable, could leach anywhere but without triggering any environmental problems or violations.

[0084] People assume they need pyrolysis to reduce overall MSW, and assume that pyrolysis protects land and water tables. That is a starting point, that is a conventional assumption and is reasonable. However, the usages of PRIF 140 described herein supercede this assumption.

[0085] People who think they need pyrolysis in fact may not. Instead, they can convert these MSW products (normally perceived as non-biodegradable) with PRIF 140, thereby converting these non-biodegradable waste products into a reusable oil that can be repurposed.

[0086] FIG. 14 shows synthetically modified petroleum asphaltenes compared with naturally occurring asphaltenes. When PRIF 140 is introduced, it immediately de-oxygenates and modifies the crude to break down the products known to be asphalt-based. The addition of the PRIF allows for the reversal of the oxygenating syntheses within oil. This is turn allows hydrocarbons within oil to further break down back into their original crude oil state. This original state is far more useful to society, far more reusable without expensive treatment.

[0087] Another important factor of using the PRIF is that it naturally separates the crude oil and the byproducts mixed therein. This again is very different from other solvents that require an additional step of energy for separation. The PRIF 140 ensures the byproducts and oil are completely non soluble inside the treatment process. This allows for quick and energy free separation especially from trapped water content bringing more value to the recycled or pyrolytic oil. The separatory funnel 1004 of FIG. 10 is but one example of this. So, one of the most important things about the PRIF de-watering and the chemical interaction is that PRIF deconstructs the modified hydrocarbon product back to its original state, doing so without energy consumption.

[0088] Meanwhile, in sharp contrast, most other chemical catalysts (e.g. SMR) require a chemical removing step. That's not how the PRIF 140 works. No need for all this extra hassle. Once PRIF 140 is mixed with the asphaltene, just let it sit. The PRIF naturally separates the components with no energy. After a predetermined time, or e.g. visually affirming fluid separation, one can easily remove the PRIF 140 by a variety of means e.g. through column extraction.

[0089] Thus, the non-pyrolizer embodiments herein can accommodate MSW and\or shingles. Just add PRIF. Take all shingles and turn them back into usable oil, whether synthetic or natural asphaltenes. Can convert shingles into a pumpable higher-API crude which can be refined into other distillates. The oil derived from non-pyrolytic processes described herein can be used in regular refinement and can be converted back into common distillates. This in turn results in a far more viable recycling path that is very energy reduced, using simple Weir systems and natural separation.

[0090] FIG. 10 shows an image of total separated oil, which is just oil with no contaminants. FIGS. 11-12 show results of recycling of the components. FIG. 11 shows the recovered contaminants 1104 in their aggregate state, and FIG. 12 shows the recovered fiberglass 1204 in a dried and isolated state. The recycled extraction of products that are inside synthetic and common asphaltenes that can be used again in regular trade such as raw materials to form e.g. fiberglass.

[0091] The embodiments herein comprise low cost quasi-pyrolysis, low cost recycling. Recycling's biggest expense is energy, just like desalinization. The PRIF 140 can greatly reduce such energy costs.

[0092] FIG. 14 shows an effect of the PRIF 140 is once the oil has been mixed therein. The PRIF acts as a chemically induced hydrocracker. Thicker crudes or pyrolytic oil have very large hydrocarbon chains, which correlates with a low API. But once soaked in PRIF and allowing for a reaction with the abundance of H.sub.1+ protons, it provides a chemically induced hydrocrack.

[0093] Typical refineries takes the very thick molasses oil, heat it into a vapor state, and then they run Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) to produce hydrogen, which then is broken through catalytic methods. While a time-honored tradition, this SMR sequence was developed at a time when energy costs were less important. Times have changed since then. Accordingly, using the PRIF skips these steps entirely, again with little to no energy. FIG. 14 shows large chain hydrocarbons plus PRIF which had H.sub.1+ abundance allows for chemical reaction converting them into small chain hydrocarbons. FIG. 14 shows PRIF 140 being mixed into long chain hydrocarbons to create small chain hydrocarbons and extra aromatics. The chemical hydrocracker is using the PRIF 140 and leveraging its abundance of available H.sub.1+ protons.

[0094] Hydro crack is referencing PRIF being mixed into long chain hydrocarbons to create small chain hydrocarbons and extra aromatics, as shown in FIG. 14. Synthetic asphaltenes have been chemically altered, which typically means starting with natural asphaltenes but adding oxygen or water, or typically the oxygen can come from water in the modification process when reforming a product like roof shingles. The PRIF 140 is introduced, which then reverts that process with almost no energy bringing everything back into a reusable state. The PRIF 140 thus converts the used hydrocarbons into a cleaner, lighter crude oil.

[0095] An asphaltene-aromatic test is shown in FIG. 15, which is not based on roof shingles but instead is taken from an on-site downhole location at an oil drilling site. The highly favorable results can occur even downhole where no humans can be safe, using the existing harsh ambient downhole temperatures and harsh natural downhole pressures. Using this handy assistance, injecting the PRIF 140 downhole achieves a type of de-facto chemical hydro-crack with minimal effort, minimal expense, and zero additional energy costs. The test results of FIG. 15 illustrate how the PRIF-induced reduction in asphaltenes is apparent, along with the PRIF-induced increase in aromatics.

[0096] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. It is not intended that the invention be limited by the specific examples provided within the specification. While the invention has been described with reference to the aforementioned specification, the descriptions and illustrations of the embodiments herein are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Furthermore, it shall be understood that all aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific depictions, configurations, or relative proportions set forth herein which depend upon a variety of conditions and variables. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the invention shall also cover any such alternatives, modifications, variations, or equivalents. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

APPENDIX A: EXAMPLE HYDROGEN-DONATING INPUT FLUIDS 101

[0097] A non-limiting list of potential types of hydrogen-donating fluids can include but is not limited to e.g., HClhydrochloric acid, HNO3nitric acid, H2SO4sulfuric acid, HBrhydrobromic acid, HIhydroiodic acid, HClO4perchloric acid, HClO3chloric acid, HO2C2O22Hoxalic acid, H2SO3sulfurous acid, H2Owater, HSO4hydrogen sulfate ion, H3PO4phosphoric acid, HNO2nitrous acid, HFhydrofluoric acid, HCO2Hmethanoic acid, C6H5COOHbenzoic acid, CH3COOHacetic acid, HCOOHformic acid, C6H8O7citric acid, C18H36O2stearic acid, CH3OHmethyl alcohol, CH3CH2OHethyl alcohol, CH3(CH2)3OHn-butyl alcohol, C3H8Opropanol, CH3CH2CH2OHn-propyl alcohol, (CH3)3COHt-butyl alcohol, CH3(CH2)4OHn-pentyl alcohol, and (CH3)2CHOHisopropyl alcohol.