Method For Releasing Organics From Shale And Like Materials To Produce A Liquid Shale Fuel

Abstract

Method for release of organic materials from shale oil and like solid substances, by treating shale oil powder in a liquid medium, with vortical movements, wave movements, acoustic turbulent streams, or combinations thereof. The treatment causes foaming of the liquid medium followed by separation of the foam from the liquid medium, whereby the foam is enriched with organic materials released from the shale oil powder. The foam can be placed in a liquid organic solvent and treated with vortical movements, wave movements, acoustic turbulent streams, or combinations thereof. The treatment causes the extraction of hydrocarbons into the solvent, and the inorganic shale material to precipitate. The remaining inorganic sold material can be utilized in the manufacture of construction materials. The obtained solution of the extracted hydrocarbons into the solvent represents a synthetic fuel, which could be used after slight reforming as motor fuel, jet fuel, or the like.

1 . A process for releasing organic materials from a solid substance into a liquid product medium, said process comprising any one or more of the steps of:
 (a) placing the solid substance into a first liquid medium;   (b) subjecting said first liquid medium to vibrations;   (c) causing cavitations in said first liquid medium, whereby said first liquid medium forms a foam;   (d) removing said foam from said first liquid medium;   (e) introducing said foam into a second liquid medium;   (f) subjecting said second liquid medium to turbulent acoustic streams, whereby the non-organics of the solid substance precipitate; and   (g) separating said precipitated non-organic matter of the solid substance from the second liquid medium.   
   
   
       2 . The process of according to  claim 1 , wherein said vibrations are caused by vortical movements, wave movements, or vortical acoustic streams, or combinations of vortical movements, wave movements, or vortical acoustic streams. 
   
   
       3 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein said turbulent acoustical streams are caused by hydrodynamic radiators operating in a frequency range from about 0.1 Hz to 100 MHz. 
   
   
       4 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein said turbulent acoustical streams are caused by ultrasound waves in diapason of 10-100 kHz. 
   
   
       5 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein said second liquid medium is an organic solvent. 
   
   
       6 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, and butanol. 
   
   
       7 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein said first liquid medium is water, whereby the application of turbulent streams causes cavitations and the emergence of foam. 
   
   
       8 . The process according to  claims 2 , wherein said foam facilitates the concentration of substantially organic matter of the solid substance. 
   
   
       9 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein said foam facilitates the concentration of substantially organic matter of the solid substance. 
   
   
       10 . The process according to any one of  claims 1 , wherein said solid substance is selected from the group consisting of shale, shale oil, tar sands, bitumen, and coal. 
   
   
       11 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein said solid substance is shale oil powder and said second liquid medium is an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, and butanol. 
   
   
       12 . The process according to  claim 2  wherein said solid substance is shale oil powder mixed with one of the following: powder of dry tree leaves, tar sand, coal, sawdust or similar materials. 
   
   
       13 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein said non-organic matter can be used as a feed stock for cement production or building materials. 
   
   
       14 . A product made by the process according to any one of  claims 1 , wherein said liquid product medium is a liquid fuel, having substantially inter gasoline components, through the release of lights fractions of hydrocarbons from the solid substance. 
   
   
       15 . A product made by the process according to  claim 11 , wherein said liquid product medium is a liquid fuel, having substantially inter gasoline components, through the release of light fractions of hydrocarbons from the shale oil powder. 
   
   
       16 . A product made by the process according to  claim 2 , wherein said solid substance is shale and said liquid product medium is a liquid fuel, having substantially inter gasoline components, through the release of light fractions of hydrocarbons from the shale. 
   
   
       17 . A product made by the process according to  claim 1 , wherein said solid substance is shale and said liquid product medium is a liquid fuel having substantially inter gasoline components, through the release of light fractions of hydrocarbons from the shale. 
   
   
       18 . A product made by the process according to  claim 11 , wherein said liquid product medium contains about 28% Toluene. 
   
   
       19 . A product made by the process according to  claim 11 , wherein said liquid product medium contains about 10-27% weight on a dry basis of organic material. 
   
   
       20 . A product made by the process according to  claim 11 , wherein said liquid product medium has a heat of combustion of about 11 Mcal/kg.