Patent ID: 6844477

Claim:
A process for recovering a composition enriched in tetramantane components and other higher diamondoid components which process comprises: a. selecting a feedstock comprising recoverable amounts of tetramantane components and other higher diamondoid components; b. removing a sufficient amount of components from the feedstock having a boiling point less than the lowest boiling point tetramantane component under conditions wherein recoverable amounts of tetramantane components and other higher diamondoid components are retained in the treated feedstock; and c. thermally treating the feedstock recovered in b) above to pyrolyze at least a sufficient amount of nondiamondoid components therefrom to permit recovery of tetramantane components and other higher diamondoid components from the pyrolytically treated feedstock wherein said pyrolysis is conducted under conditions to provide for a treated feedstock retaining recoverable amounts of tetramantane components and other higher diamondoid components.