Patent ID: 9683178
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: C10G

Claim:
1. A method of processing an oil sands-derived acidic hydrocarbon feed for treatment downstream, the hydrocarbon feed comprising an acid and a hydrocarbon material, the method comprising: (a) contacting the hydrocarbon feed under a first operating condition with a non-neutralizing fluid active agent, wherein the active agent does not neutralize the hydrocarbon feed and has an initial active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon feed and the acid has an acid solubility in the hydrocarbon feed; (b) permitting a separable enriched active agent phase to form in the hydrocarbon feed under a second operating condition, wherein: (c) allowing the separable enriched active agent phase to separate from the hydrocarbon material depleted in the acid under the second operating condition.