Patent ID: 8734639

Claim:
A process for the removal of heavy, high molecular weight multi-ring aromatics, and/or resins, and/or polycyclic hetero atom(S,N,O)-containing aromatics from heavy hydrocarbon feed streams comprising petroleum resid, and/or bitumen, and/or shale oil, and/or heavy oils by contacting such heavy hydrocarbon feed streams with an ionic liquid which interacts with and in which the high molecular weight multi-ring aromatics, and/or resins and/or polycyclic hetero atom(S,N,O)-containing aromatics, are soluble, and separating said ionic liquid saturated with the heavy, high molecular weight multi-ring aromatics, and/or resins, and/or polycyclic hetero atom(S,N,O)-containing aromatics from the remainder of the heavy hydrocarbon feed stream; wherein the ionic liquid is an organic salt wherein the cation is selected from wherein R 2 is C 1 -C 10 hydrocarbyl, R 3 is C 1 to C 10 hydrocarbyl, R x is H or C 1 to C 12 hydrocarbyl, and n is the number of available carbons in the ring; wherein R 5 s are the same or different and selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 1 -C 10 hydroxy alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 7 -C 10 arylalkyl, C 7 -C 10 alkyl aryl, and x, y and z are integers ranging from about 1 to 30; and the anion is selected from RCOO − , or RPO 3 −2 , wherein R x and n are as previously defined.