Patent ID: 8398824

Claim:
A system for separating hydrocarbon from hydrocarbon-containing material using a non-aqueous extractant, said system comprising: a dryer operable to at least partially dry said hydrocarbon-containing material; an extraction chamber in downstream communication with said dryer and operable to facilitate contact via a substantially countercurrent flow between said hydrocarbon-containing material and said non-aqueous extractant and thereby produce an extract stream comprising extracted hydrocarbon and at least a portion of said non-aqueous extractant and a residual stream comprising residual hydrocarbon-containing material and at least a portion of said non-aqueous extractant; and an extractant recovery chamber in downstream communication with said extraction chamber and operable to facilitate contact between at least a portion of said residual stream and an extractant recovery fluid to thereby recover at least a portion of said non-aqueous extractant from said residual stream.