Patent ID: 12006473

Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for processing and recovering bitumen (42) and aggregate (41) from asphalt (40), in which: a) the asphalt (40) is mechanically comminuted; b) the comminuted asphalt is introduced into an evacuated or evacuatable processing chamber (1); c) the processing chamber (1) is evacuated by adjusting the pressure in the processing chamber (1) to a pressure lower than ambient pressure, preferably 200 mbar or lower; d) the processing chamber (1) is then charged at least once with a liquid organic solvent; e) the liquid organic solvent is then extracted from the processing chamber (1); and then f1) the organic solvent is fed into the evacuated processing chamber (1) in the vapor phase at the reduced pressure, at a temperature at or above the flash point of the organic solvent; and/or f2) liquid organic solvent is fed into the treatment chamber (1).