Abstract:
A device and a method for separating mixtures that contain oil or bitumen and additives. The device and the method are applicable in particular to separating stone chippings and bitumen in excavated asphalt road surfaces. In the case of oil sands and oil shale, a mineral phase can be separated from an oil phase and separation of bitumen and carrier felt can be induced in recycling of bitumen felt, oil binder and oil. The individual components of the mixture are separated from one another using a solvent, wherein the solvent takes up the oil or bitumen. The oil and bitumen are subsequently separated from the solvent so that the solvent can be reused.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is a national phase application of PCT application PCT/EP2011/003866, filed pursuant to 35 U.S.C.§371, which claims priority to European Application EP 10 07 5333.4, filed Jul. 30, 2010. Both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a device and to a method for separating mixtures which contain oil or bitumen and additives. The device and the method are particularly applicable to separating stone chippings and bitumen in evacuated asphalt road surfaces. Moreover, with it, the mineral phase can be separated from the oil phase also with oil sands and oil shale, and a separation of bitumen and carrier felt can be induced with the recycling of bitumen felt, oil binder and oil. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Mixtures of oil or bitumen and additives are applied widely in many fields of technology. In road construction for example, asphalt, a mixture of bitumen as a binder and ground mineral additives of certain rock types and of a certain size spectrum, is used as a surface. For recycling old road surfacing, this is milled away from the subsurface, reduced in size, deposited and later or however directly added again to new asphalt surfacing as an aggregate, wherein the mineral phase is still encased by bitumen. The size spectrum of the mineral part can therefore not be varied as extensively as with new aggregate which has not yet been used. For this reason, it is desirable to separate the bitumen share from the mineral additive and to feed both to the recycling in a separate and metered manner. The same also applies to oil sands or oil binders with which one would like to reliably separate oil and additives for a successful recycling. 
         [0004]    Methods and devices for achieving this aim are already known from the state of the art. The document DE 10 2006 038 614 A1 describes a method, with which the quality loss with the recycling of broken, excavated asphalt is reduced by way of the addition of chemical additives such as softeners and hardeners at temperatures of about 140° C. The disadvantage of this method is the fact that a comparatively high temperature and numerous chemicals need to be used. 
         [0005]    A method is disclosed in DE 600 10 533 T2,with which the aggregate is separated from the bitumen share, by way of a thermal decomposition of the bitumen encasing. Bitumen is thereby used as a fuel and is activated by introducing hot gases into a drum which contains the excavated material. The method however has the disadvantage that it is coupled to the manufacture of new asphalt and may only be carried out at a high energy expense. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    It is therefore the object of the present invention, to develop a method and a device, with which a reliable separation of a mixture of oil-containing or bitumen-containing substances and additives is ensured, without a coupling to the manufacture of new asphalt being present, and wherein the additives and the oil-containing or bitumen-containing material is stored and when required, newly classified, can be fed to a new asphalt production. Moreover, the energy application should be as low as possible. 
         [0007]    A device according to the invention, for separating mixtures, which contain oil or bitumen and additives, includes a reaction vessel, into which the mixture and a solvent can be brought through a feed opening and/or a filling conduit, into a reaction space, further including a supply container with a vapor space, at least one capture container with a withdrawal conduit and with a riser conduit, and a condensation vessel. In some embodiments, the mixture is filled in through the feed opening while the solvent is introduced through the filling conduit, but also only one opening can be provided for this purpose for space-saving reasons. The opening in any case is closed via a valve. 
         [0008]    The solvent dissolves the oil-containing or bitumen-containing material from the additives, in the reaction space in an initial method step. Thus the additives to all intents and purposes are free from their encasing and purified and can be classified as newly manufactured material. This procedure can be carried out several times until the desired purity of the additives is achieved. This “washing procedure” may thereby take place at room temperature without any additional supply of heat. 
         [0009]    The solvent laden with oil or bitumen, in a further method step, is removed from the reaction space, while the additives remain in this. Thereafter, the material remaining in the reaction space is removed from this by way of a lock. Thereby, it can be advantageous to provide a transport belt below the lock, said transport belt immediately transporting away the additives. Alternatively, the material can be removed again through the feed opening, also by way of tilting the reaction vessel. 
         [0010]    The oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent from the reaction space collects in the supply container as a sediment on a base, while the solvent in the upper part of the supply container, the vapor space, is located in the gas phase. At least one conduit, the withdrawal conduit, departs from the base of the supply container, to capture containers. If the withdrawal conduit is opened, for example by way of opening a valve contained therein, then the oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent flows into the capture container. The capture container is heated in a further method step, in order to separate the solvent from the oil or bitumen. The evaporated solvent is transported away via the riser conduit which leads from the capture container into the vapor space of the supply vessel, while the oil or bitumen stays back in the capture container. In some embodiments, a filled capture container can be removed after closure of the valves, and be replaced by an empty one. The solvent is constantly kept in the vapor phase in the vapor space by way of a suitable temperature. Solvent can be supplied to the supply container through the riser conduit in a simple manner, without requiring separate pumps or other energy-consuming apparatus. 
         [0011]    The vapor space is connected to the reaction space which in turn is in connection with the condensation vessel. The solvent in one method step gets into the condensation vessel and is liquefied there. The liquefied solvent from here can either be filled into a reaction vessel again, in order to start a renewed washing procedure. 
         [0012]    The device according to the invention thus has the advantage of a significantly simpler construction compared to devices for separating stone chippings and bitumen, which are known from the state of the art. In particular, a device according to the invention requires no wash drum and achieves a reliable separation of oil or bitumen and additives, even without the support of ultrasound. Thus the energy consumption for carrying out the method is significantly reduced compared to methods and devices known from the state of the art. 
         [0013]    In one advantageous development, the reaction space at the discharge conduit includes a particle filter which prevents fine particles being sucked as well. 
         [0014]    Mixing devices such as stirrers or ultrasound cleaning devices for the improved through-mixing of the solvent can also be contained in the reaction space, for supporting the washing procedure. 
         [0015]    In order to ensure a continuous washing procedure, a device according to the invention may advantageously include several reaction spaces which are connected parallel to one another. A washing procedure then takes place in each reaction space, wherein the individual washing procedures particularly advantageously take place in staggered manner with regard to time, in order to ensure a uniform accumulation of the separated materials. Several capture containers can just as well be provided, in order to continuously capture oil or bitumen. 
         [0016]    One advantageous embodiment can envisage the reaction space including a discharge conduit which is connected to the supply container. In a particularly advantageous manner, the discharge conduit can be connected to the vapor space. A direct connection between the reaction space and the supply container is given by the discharge conduit, and this connection permits substances to be transported in a defined direction between the connected spaces. 
         [0017]    The discharge conduit out of the reaction space into the supply container is advantageously designed according to the principle of a siphon. Thus a discharge is effected alone on account of the rising solvent level. 
         [0018]    In a further embodiment, the vapor space can be connected via a conduit to the condensation vessel. Thus the solvent can be led directly out of the vapor space into the condensation vessel, condense more rapidly by way of this and also be brought more rapidly to the mixture for cleaning. 
         [0019]    One embodiment can envisage the condensation vessel being in connection with the reaction space via a further conduit. This has the advantage of a direct introduction of the condensed solvent into the reaction space, by which means the solvent can be brought onto the mixture to be cleaned or purified, in a more rapid manner. 
         [0020]    The device according to the invention, by way of a pump, can be maintained at a slight vacuum, thus e.g. between 5 mbar and 10 mbar below the atmospheric pressure. Thus one prevents solvent from exiting into the surroundings in the case of leaking locations. The pump or the blower which is used for this can be provided with an additional condenser which is cooled by a cooling device at a few degrees above 0° C. and condenses solvent vapors out of the discharge air, so that the solvent can be constantly reused and no exit of the solvent into the environment takes place. 
         [0021]    The vapor space by way of a heater can be kept at a temperature of 60° C. to 65° C., in order to maintain the solvent in the vapor space in the vapor phase, since a boiling delay occurs at greater temperatures. 
         [0022]    The capture container is advantageously held at a temperature of between 75° C. and 95° C. by way of a heating element for heating, but this range can be varied depending on the boiling point of the used solvent. 
         [0023]    The condensation vessel can be held at lower temperatures, such as between 10° C. and 15° C., for condensing the solvent and this can be effected by way of a cooling element. With the application of greater temperatures, a larger condensation vessel is required, whereas lower temperatures lead to an increasing condensation of water which again must be removed through a filter. 
         [0024]    A further embodiment can envisage the reaction space including a conveying device, on which the mixture containing oil and bitumen and additives, and the solvent are conveyed. The mixture for this is led in a counter-flow to the solvent, by which means a particularly efficient washing by the solvent takes place. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the solvent is dichloromethane. However chloroform, diesel, naphtha, acetone, methanol, tetrahydrofurane, butyl methyl ether, carbon tetrachloride, propane gas, benzene or toluene can be applied for this purpose. 
         [0026]    The separation of the oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent from the additives in the reaction space can be controlled or regulated with regard to time, in order to increase the efficiency of the method. Thereby, a clouding of the solvent, determined by a measurement apparatus which carries out a turbidity measurement, can be used as a control variable or controlled variable. 
         [0027]    One advantageous further development can envisage a heating of the reaction space being carried out for drying the additives of the mixture and for removing the remaining solvent. The method becomes more efficient on account of this, since the additives can be removed in a completely dried manner, and the removed solvent can be used for the renewed washing 
         [0028]    A further advantageous development envisages the reaction space for heating being heated about 10 minutes at a temperature of 60° C. Alternatively, the reaction space can be heated for a shorter time at a temperature of over 100° C. in dependence on the applied material and the boiling point of the solvent, in order to shorten the drying times. For supporting this, the air can be sucked through the reaction space, which is particularly advantageous if the device is maintained at a vacuum. 
         [0029]    By the same token, air can be sucked or blown through the capture container for supporting the drying. This, as already mentioned, is particularly advantageous if the device is kept under a vacuum. 
         [0030]    In a particularly advantageous manner, the device and the method are applied with the treatment of asphalt containing bitumen. 
         [0031]    The end product of the method consists of bitumen or oil and additives, preferably mineral aggregates, and which were separated from one another by the method. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0032]    Embodiment examples of the method are represented in sketched manner in  FIGS. 1 to 6  and are explained by way of these figures. 
           [0033]    There are shown in: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a first embodiment example of a device according to the invention, with several reaction vessels, wherein different steps of the method are represented in the individual reaction vessels, 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged schematic view of one of the reaction vessels with a solvent feed conduit which is designed differently compared to the embodiment represented in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a second embodiment example of a device according to the invention, with a single reaction vessel, in which a conveyor belt runs, 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a representation corresponding to  FIG. 3  with an embodiment example of an alternative solvent feed onto the conveyor belt, 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a representation according to  FIG. 3 , with a worm instead of the conveyor belt and 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a representation of the device, according to  FIG. 5 , with the worm and the solvent feed through the worm. 
       
    
    
       [0040]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a device according to the invention, with several reaction vessels, wherein different steps of the method are represented in the individual reaction vessels. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    The reaction vessels  1 - 8  are each constructed identically, even if for reasons of an improved overview, not all components are represented on each reaction vessel  1 - 8 . Each reaction vessel  1 - 8  includes a reaction space  11  which via a feed opening  12  and a valve contained therein, can be filled with the material  14  to be purified. The material  14  to be purified in the present case is asphalt which contains bitumen or mineral additives. Moreover, liquid solvent  210 , in the present case dichloromethane, can be filled into the reaction space  11  via a filling conduit  19  by opening the valve  18  contained therein. 
         [0042]    The solvent  210  dissolves the oil-containing or bitumen-containing constituents of the material  14  to be purified, from the additives, which is hereinafter indicated as the “washing procedure”. Finally, the oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent  210 , by way of the rising liquid level of the solvent  210 , is removed via a discharge conduit  16  in a bend  20 , out of the reaction space  11  and led into a supply container  100 . This discharge conduit  16  in the present embodiment example is a siphon and can be closed via a valve  17 . This washing procedure can be repeated until the desired degree of purity of the material  14  to be cleaned has been achieved. Also a simultaneous separation of several products can be effected by way of the provision of several supply containers. 
         [0043]    A mixing device  300  which includes a stirrer or an ultrasound cleaning device is attached for improving the mixing. A measurement apparatus  310  which measures the clouding of the oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent  210  and which controls or regulates the washing procedure in dependence on the measured clouding, is contained in the discharge conduit  16 . Thus additional solvent  210  is filled when the ascertained clouding is too high. The measurement apparatus  310  for this purpose contains a light source, for example an LED, and a detector, e.g. a bolometer and measures the absorption of the light emitted by the light source, in the laden solvent  210 . Alternatively, another radiation source with a detector which matches this is also possible. Moreover, a particle filter  320  is contained in the reaction space  11 , below the bend  20  on the discharge conduit  16 , and this filter prevents fine particles being sucked as well. This particle filter  320  is attached on a funnel-like widening which acts as a suction opening. 
         [0044]    After the solvent  210  has flowed away out of the reaction space  11 , the reaction vessel is heated for about 10 minutes long to 60° C. or is heated for a shorter time to above 100° C., in order to dry the material  21  which has now been purified and to finally remove the remaining solvent residues. Air can also be sucked through the reaction space  11  for supporting the drying. 
         [0045]    The material  21  which is now dried and purified is removed from the reaction space  11  via a lock  13  by way of opening a valve contained therein and can be transported further via a transport belt  15 . 
         [0046]    The reaction vessels  1 - 8  represented in  FIG. 1  are connected in parallel and permit a continuous purification of the material  14  to be purified. The material  14  to be purified is filled into the reaction vessel  1 , whereas the material  14  has already been filled in the reaction vessel  2  and solvent  210  is now added. In the reaction vessel  3 , the oil or bitumen is dissolved in the solvent  210  and flows via the discharge conduit  16  into the supply container  100 , and the same procedure is represented in the reaction vessel  4 , but here the clouding of the solvent  210  is already significantly reduced, since a large part of the oil or bitumen has already been washed out. In the same manner, a more extensive washing out of the solvent  210  is shown in the reaction vessel  5 , and this is represented by way of a constantly reducing clouding of the laden solvent  210 . The solvent is removed from the reaction space  11  in the reaction vessel  6  and only the purified material  21  remains therein. This vessel is therefore heated for drying the purified material  21  and for removing remaining solvent residues. A heater is applied on the outer walls of the reaction vessel for heating, for this. In the reaction vessel  7 , the lock  13  is opened by way of opening the valve and the purified material  21  falls onto a transport belt  15  running below the exit of the lock  13 . Again then, new material  14  to be purified is filled into the reaction vessel  8 . The washing procedure in the reaction vessels  1 - 8  is carried out at room temperature. 
         [0047]    The solvent laden with oil or bitumen in the supply vessel  100  forms a sediment  110  which collects on the base of the supply vessel  100 . From there, this solvent sediment  110  via the opening of a valve  102  of a withdrawal conduit  101  gets into a capture container  103 , for example a barrel. The capture container  103  is heated to a temperature of 75° C. to 95° C., so that the solvent  210  evaporates and the bitumen or the oil remains in the capture container  103 . The vaporization can be accelerated by way of sucking or blowing air through the capture container. The selected temperature range is designed for the use of dichloromethane as a solvent  210  and can slightly change with the application of different materials. 
         [0048]    The vaporized solvent  210  escapes via a riser conduit  104  on opening the valve  105  contained in the riser conduit  104 , into a vapor space  120 . This vapor space  120  in the supply container  100  is located above the sediment  110  and can be separated from this by way of separation elements. A temperature of 60° C. to 65° C. and which is produced by a heater prevails in the vapor space  120 . This temperature region maintains the solvent  210  in the gas phase while a boiling delay occurring at even higher temperatures is prevented. 
         [0049]    The capture container  103  can be removed after heating and cooling the bitumen or oil and be replaced with a new one, wherein a continuous separation of bitumen or oil and a continuous exchange of the capture container  103  are made possible by way of the provision of several capture containers  103 . 
         [0050]    The supply vessel  100 , more specifically the vapor space  120  is connected to a condensation vessel  200  via a conduit  130 . The gaseous solvent  210  via this conduit  130  gets into a condenser or a condensation vessel  200  which is maintained at a temperature of 10° C. to 15° C. by way of a cooling device. An increasing condensation of water occurs below these temperatures, and this water must be removed through a filter which is not represented. The solvent  210  is liquefied in the condensation vessel  200  by way of condensation and can be fed again to the respective reaction vessels  1 - 8  via a filling conduit  19 . 
         [0051]    The device is maintained at a slight vacuum, approx. 5 mbar to 10 mbar below atmospheric pressure, by way of a blower  190  or a pump. Due to this, it is impossible for solvent to exit into the surroundings on account of possibly present or occurring leakages. The through-blowing of the capture container  103  and of the reaction spaces  11  is made possible by way of the blower  190  and the vacuum which is created by way of this. This blower  190  is connected to an additional condensation vessel or condenser  180  which condenses solvent vapors out of the discharge air, so that the solvent is available for further washing procedure without an losses. For this, the condenser  180  is cooled down to a few degrees above 0° C. 
         [0052]    One of the reaction vessels  1 - 8 , by way of example the reaction vessel  1 , is represented in an enlarged manner in  FIG. 2 . In this figure as well as in the subsequent figures, identical elements are provided with identical reference numerals. In contrast to the embodiment example represented in  FIG. 1 , the reaction vessel  1  now has no introduction of the solvent  210  effected from above into the reaction space  11 , but the solvent  210  coming from the condensation vessel  200  lying above the reaction vessel  1  is led through the filling conduit  19  firstly past the reaction vessel  1 . The filling conduit  19  at its end includes a bend and runs out in a lower part of the reaction vessel  1 . The filling conduit  19  includes a pump  23  for supporting a feed of solvent. The solvent  210  however can also get into the reaction space  1  also without the application of the pump  23  due to the position of the reaction space  1  below the condensation vessel  200 . An upwardly directed distributor head  22  which is formed in a hemispherical manner and includes openings on its surface, is attached at the end of the filling conduit  19  in the reaction vessel  1 , so that the solvent  210  can exit as uniformly as possible through the distributor head  22  and thus encompasses the material  14  to be purified. 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  in a schematic representation shows a further embodiment example of a device for carrying out the method according to the invention. The material  14  to be purified, in the represented embodiment example oil sand which contains bitumen and mineral additives, is introduced into a reaction space  11  via a feed opening  12 . In the represented embodiment example, the material  14  to be cleaned is introduced into a first receiver container  260  and from there is led via a valve into a second receiver container  270  which is opened or closed by way of the feed opening  12 . Alternatively, one may also provide only one container which is closed by way of the feed opening  12 . 
         [0054]    The reaction space  11  includes a conveyor belt  220  as a conveying device, onto which, when the feed opening  12  is opened, the material  14  to be purified falls and is transported by the conveyor belt  220  in the direction of the condensation vessel  200 . The conveyor belt  220  includes a multitude of capture grids  240  at uniform distances, on which the material  14  to be purified clings and is caught, for simplified transport. The solvent  210 , in the present case acetone, as a condensate, is deposited through a discharge conduit out of the condensation vessel  200  onto the conveyor belt  200 , at an end of the conveyor belt  220  which is opposite to the feed opening. This discharge conduit for example can include a pipe conduit or a funnel system. 
         [0055]    The conveyor belt  220  starting from the end, at which the material  14  to be purified is deposited, runs in a rising manner up to the end, at which the solvent  210  is deposited, so that the solvent  210  flows counter to the transport direction of the conveyor belt  220 . Hereby, the solvent  210  rinses through the material  14  to be purified in the counter-flow direction and dissolves the oil-containing or bitumen-containing constituents of the material  14  to be purified, from the additives, within the framework of the washing procedure. The capture grids  240  can be simply passed by the liquid solvent  210 , while the solid constituents of the material  14  to be purified remain in the capture grids  240  and are transported. The reaction space  11  hereby is maintained at a temperature in the range of 15° C. to 25° C. In some embodiments, the reaction space  11  is maintained at a temperature in the range of 17° C. to 23° C. In some embodiments, the reaction space  11  is maintained at a temperature of 20° C., thus room temperature. This can be effected by way of heating elements or cooling elements which are not shown in  FIG. 3  for reasons of a better overview. 
         [0056]    With an increasing conveying path on the conveyor belt  220 , the sold constituents of the material  14  to be purified are thus purified or cleaned to an increasing extent and fall at the end of the conveyor belt  220  located below a condensation vessel  200 , from which the solvent  210  is brought onto the conveying belt  220 , into a capture device  280  provided with a heater  230 . The capture device  280  is heated, for example about 10 minutes to a temperature of 60° C., in order to remove solvent residues remaining on the solid constituents. Subsequently, the purified material  21  is removed out of the device through a lock  13  and can be used again, or should the purification not have been effected to a satisfactory extent, is deposited onto the conveyor belt  220  again and the washing procedure is carried out once again. The solvent  210  which is conveyed into the gaseous condition by way of the heating of the heater  230  is fed via a further riser conduit  290  to the condensation vessel  200  where it condenses and is deposited afresh onto the conveyor belt  220 . The further riser conduit  290  for this can be opened and closed via a valve  390 . Conduits are pipe conduits in the embodiment examples represented in the figures. 
         [0057]    The solvent  210  which runs down on the conveyor belt  220 , at the end of the conveyor belt  220 , at which end the feed opening is located, is emptied into a supply container  100 . The supply container  100  is located directly below the feed opening  12  and is in connection with the reaction space  11 . The reaction space  11  includes a particle filter  320  below the end of the conveyor belt  220  which is situated below the feed opening  12 , in order to ensure that no solid constituents of the material  14  to be purified get into the supply container  100 . The solvent  210  forms a solvent sediment  110  at the base of the supply container  100 . A vapor space  120  is located above the sediment  110 . The solvent  210  in the vapor space  120  is kept in the gaseous state by way of a heater  250  running around the supply container  100 , at a temperature of 60° C. to 65° C. 
         [0058]    The base of the supply container  100  is closed by a valve  102  of a withdrawal conduit  101 . The withdrawal conduit  101  connects the supply container  100  to a capture container  103 . When the valve  102  is open, the solvent  210  can get through the withdrawal conduit  101  into the capture container  103 . This capture container  103  is connected via a further valve to a barrel, but in an embodiment which is not represented, the capture container  103  may directly be a barrel and thus be separated from the device according to the invention and transported away, in a particularly simple manner. The capture container  103  is heated by the heater  250  to 60° C. so that solvent  210  thus acetone evaporates and the bitumen or the oil remains in the capture container  103 . Air can be blown through the capture container  103  by way of a blower which is not shown, for accelerating the vaporization. 
         [0059]    Vaporized solvent  210  escapes via a riser conduit  104  on opening the valve  105  contained in the riser conduit  104 , into the vapor space  120 . Since the reaction space  11  and the vapor space  120  are connected to one another, the vaporous solvent  210  can also get into the reaction space  11 , condense there and settle again on the conveyor belt  220 . The solvent vapor condenses at the latest on reaching the condensation vessel  200 , and the solvent  210  settles on the conveyor belt  220  in the liquid state. The connection between the vapor space  120  and condensation vessel  200  in the represented embodiment example is effected via the reaction space  11  through the space above and below the conveyor belt  220 , but can also be designed as a separate conduit. The condensation vessel  200  is kept at a temperature of 10° C. to 15° C. by way of a cooling device. 
         [0060]    A blower  190  attached on the condensation vessel  200  maintains the device at a slight vacuum, thus roughly 5 mbar to 10 mbar below the atmospheric pressure. By way of this, an exit of solvent by way of leaks is avoided. The blower  190  is connected to an additional condenser  180  and this condenser condenses the solvent vapors out of the discharge air, for which it is cooled to a few degrees above 0° C., and 3° C. in the represented embodiment example. 
         [0061]    Several devices of a second embodiment and which are represented in  FIG. 3  can also be operated parallel to one another, wherein for example a condensation vessel  200  can be all devices together. 
         [0062]      FIG. 4  in a schematic view corresponding to  FIG. 3  represents a further embodiment example of the device for separating mixtures with a conveyor belt  220 . However, the solvent  210  coming from the condensation vessel  200  in the embodiment example shown in  FIG. 4  is collected in a capture space  330  at the lower end of the condensation vessel  200  and in contrast to the embodiment example shown in  FIG. 3  can no longer get into the reaction space  11  in an uninhibited manner. The capture space  330  includes a run-over protection  340  so that given a filled level of the solvent  210  in the capture space  330 , said level rising above the run-over protection  340 , the solvent  210  can run off into the reaction space  11  onto the conveyor belt  220  without intervention of a user. 
         [0063]    The solvent  210  collected in the capture space  330  is pumped via a pump  23  into the reaction space  11 . For this, an end-pipe  340  with openings in the reaction space  11  is attached between a lower end and an upper end of the conveyor belt  220 . The openings are located on the upper side of the end-pipe  340 , i.e. on a side which faces the material  14  to be purified. The solvent enters into the reaction space  11  through the openings of the end-pipe  340 . The solvent  230  in the end-pipe  340  is under pressure due to the pump  23 , so that the solvent  210  can be injected or sprayed out of the openings onto the conveyor belt  220 . 
         [0064]    A view of a device for separating mixtures with a worm  350  running in the reaction space instead of the conveyor belt  220  is shown in  FIG. 5 , in a manner corresponding to  FIG. 3 . The worm  350  is driven by a drive unit  360  and rotates about a longitudinal axis. The worm  350  functions similarly to an Archimedean screw, i.e. the material  14  to be purified is deposited onto the worm  350  via the feed opening  12  and is transported further in the direction of the capture device  280  by a worm thread  400 . The solvent  210  flows through the material  14  to be purified, in a counter-flow and can be deposited directly from the condensation vessel  200  onto the worm  350 . The condensation vessel  200  moreover yet includes a conduit  370  which departing from the condensation vessel  200  ends with the end-pipe  340  at the worm  350 . The end-pipe  340  includes openings, through which the solvent  210  is sprayed onto the worm  350 . The pump  23  is attached on the conduit  370  and sucks the solvent  210  out of the condensation vessel  200  and pumps it through the conduit  370  up to the end-pipe  340 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 6  in a view corresponding to  FIG. 5  represents a further embodiment example of the device for separating mixtures. As with the embodiment example represented in  FIG. 5 , the conveying device is the worm  350  which is set into rotation about its longitudinal axis by the drive unit  360  and thus transports the material to be purified on the worm gear  400 . The conduit  370  from the condensation vessel  200  into the reaction space  11  is however led through the drive unit  360  into an interior of the worm shaft  380 . The worm shaft  380  includes openings extending in the direction of the rotation axis. The solvent  210  exits through these openings into the reaction space  11 , wherein it is accelerated by the centrifugal force acting by way of the rotation of the worm  350 , through the openings of the worm shaft  380  and flows in a counter-flow through the material  14  to be purified. 
         [0066]    Further aspects which are encompassed by the invention are mentioned hereinafter. One aspect of the invention includes a device for separating mixtures  14  which contain oil or bitumen and additives, wherein the device includes at least one reaction vessel  1  having a reaction space  11 , a feed opening  12  and a discharge conduit  16 , further including a supply container  100  having a vapor space  120 , further including at least one capture container  103  having a withdrawal conduit  101  and a riser conduit  104 , and further including a condensation vessel  200 , wherein the discharge conduit  16  is in connection with the supply container  100 , the supply container  100  via the withdrawal conduit  101  with the capture container  103 , the capture container  103  via the riser conduit  104  with the vapor space  120 , the vapor space  120  via a conduit  130  with the condensation vessel  200 , and the condensation vessel  200  via a further conduit  19  with the reaction space  11 . 
         [0067]    A further aspect relates to a device according to the preceding aspect, wherein the reaction space  11  contains a particle filter  320 . 
         [0068]    A further aspect relates to a device according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein stirrers or ultrasound cleaning devices  300  for improved mixing of a solvent  210  are contained in the reaction space  11 . 
         [0069]    A further aspect relates to a device according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein several reaction vessels  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , are arranged in parallel. 
         [0070]    A further aspect relates to a device according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the discharge conduit  16  includes a siphon. 
         [0071]    A further aspect relates to a device according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the device has a slight vacuum of 5 to 10 mbar below atmospheric pressure. 
         [0072]    A further aspect relates to a device according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the vapor space  120  has a temperature of 60° C. to maximal 65° C. 
         [0073]    A further aspect relates to a device according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the capture container  103  has a temperature of 75° C. to 95° C. 
         [0074]    A further aspect relates to a device according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the condenser  200  has a temperature of 10° C. to 15° C. 
         [0075]    One aspect of the invention relates to a method for separating mixtures  14  which contain oil or bitumen and additives, having the following steps:
       a) dissolving oil-containing or bitumen-containing constituents out of a mixture in a solvent  210  in a reaction space  11 ;   b) separating the oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent  210  from additives of the mixture and leading the oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent  210  further into a supply container  103 ;   c) heating the reaction space  11  for drying the additives of the mixture and for removing the remaining solvent  210 ;   d) vaporizing the oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent  210  in a capture container  103  connected to the supply container  100  and capturing the oil or bitumen in the capture container  103 , and the solvent vapor in a vapor space  120  of the supply container  100 ;   e) leading away the solvent vapor out of the vapor space  120  and condensing the solvent in a condenser  200 .       
 
         [0081]    A further aspect of the invention relates to a method according to the preceding aspect, wherein the solvent  210  includes dichloromethane, chloroform, diesel, naphtha, acetone, methanol, tetrahydrofurane, butyl methyl ether, carbon tetrachloride, propane gas, benzene or toluene. 
         [0082]    A further aspect relates to a method according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the separation of the oil-laden or bitumen-laden solvent  210  is controlled or regulated in a temporal manner, preferably via a turbidity measurement of the solvent  210 . 
         [0083]    A further aspect relates to a method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction space  11  is heated for 10 minutes to 60° C. for heating. 
         [0084]    A further aspect relates to a method according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein air is sucked or blown through the capture container  103 , for the accelerated vaporization of the solvent  210 . 
         [0085]    A further aspect relates to a method according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein bitumen-containing asphalt is used as a mixture  14 . 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           1 - 8  reaction vessel 
           11  reaction space 
           12  feed opening 
           13  lock 
           14  material to be purified 
           15  transport belt 
           16  discharge conduit 
           17  valve 
           18  valve 
           19  filling conduit 
           20  bend 
           21  purified material 
           22  distributor head 
           23  pump 
           100  supply container 
           101  withdrawal conduit 
           102  valve 
           103  capture container 
           104  riser conduit 
           105  valve 
           110  solvent sediment 
           120  vapor space 
           130  conduit 
           180  additional condenser 
           190  blower 
           200  condensation vessel 
           210  solvent 
           220  conveyor belt 
           230  heater 
           240  capture grid 
           250  heater 
           260  first receiving container 
           270  second receiving container 
           280  capture device 
           290  further riser conduit 
           300  mixing device 
           310  measurement apparatus 
           320  particle filter 
           330  capture space 
           340  end-pipe 
           350  worm 
           360  drive unit 
           370  conduit 
           380  worm shaft 
           390  valve of the further riser conduit 
           400  worm thread