Microwave-based recovery of hydrocarbons and fossil fuels

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for decomposing and extracting compositions for the recovery of petroleum-based materials from composites comprising those petroleum-based materials, comprising subjecting the compositions and/or composites to microwave radiation, wherein the microwave radiation is in the range of from about 4 GHz to about 18 GHz. The present invention also provides for products produced by the methods of the present invention and for apparatuses used to perform the methods of the present invention.

1 . An apparatus for extracting a petroleum-based material from a composite comprising petroleum-based material, comprising:
 a microwave radiation generator, wherein said generator is capable of applying microwave radiation characterized as having at least one frequency component in the range of from about 4 GHz to about 18 GHz; and   at least one container to collect said extracted petroleum-based material.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the microwave radiation generator is capable of applying a microwave radiation frequency of between about 4.0 and about 12.0 GHz. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the microwave radiation generator is capable of applying a microwave radiation frequency of between about 7.9 and about 8.7 GHz. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the microwave radiation generator is capable of applying a sweeping range of microwave radiation frequencies of between about 4.0 and about 12.0 GHz. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the range of frequencies of said radiation is in the C-Band frequency range. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the range of frequencies of said radiation is in the X-Band frequency range. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the range of frequencies of said radiation is in the range of from about 5.8 GHz to about 7.0 GHz. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the frequency of said radiation is in the range of from about 7.9 GHz to about 8.7 GHz. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one chamber for holding said composition. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber is closed to the outside atmosphere. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber is capable of operating at an internal pressure of less than about 40 Torr. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber is capable of operating at an internal pressure of less than about 20 Torr. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber is capable of operating at an internal pressure of less than about 5 Torr. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature detector for said composite.