Patent ID: 6861569

Claim:
A process which comprises: a. selecting a feedstock comprising recoverable amounts of a higher diamondoid component or components selected for recovery, nondiamondoid components and diamondoid components having a boiling point less than the lowest boiling point higher diamondoid component selected for recovery; b. removing from the feedstock a sufficient amount of components having a boiling point less than the lowest boiling point higher diamondoid component selected for recovery under conditions wherein recoverable amounts of the higher diamondoid component or components selected for recovery 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 the selected higher diamondoid component or components from the thermally treated feedstock wherein the pyrolysis is conducted under conditions to provide a treated feedstock retaining recoverable amounts of the selected higher diamondoid component or components.