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Deasphalting is a refining process that separates asphalt and other compounds from petroleum products using solvents. The process is necessary to extract valuable oils and gases that are locked up with asphalt. Refineries must consider the type of materials being processed to determine which solvents should be used. Companies can experiment with new deasphalting technology to produce cleaner, more usable materials efficiently and reduce costs associated with refining.
Deasphalting is a chemical process that separates asphalt and other compounds from petroleum products. It is part of the refining process used to break down crude oil into various components of commercial value. Each barrel of oil can produce a variety of useful products that can be sold after separation. The most common deasphalting tactic uses solvents to extract the asphalt, under the supervision of a refinery technician who tests the oil and determines how it should be processed.
In refining, crude oil moves through a series of steps to extract various compounds. Commonly, it is heated in a vacuum for fractional distillation, where heated components rise up a column, releasing at different temperatures to produce a series of separate compounds. After fractional distillation, individual materials may require further processing. Some products, for example, contain valuable oils and gases that are locked up with asphalt and made inaccessible without deasphalting.
The solvent extraction process subjects a sample of mixed materials to solvents that expel the asphalt. This leaves clean, usable oil behind. Refineries can sell the oil or add it to blends and can crack it to break down the hydrocarbon chains and use it for other purposes. The leftover asphalt is also salable for use in paving and composition of roofing shingles.
In the deasphalting unit where this process takes place, a refinery worker must consider the type of materials being processed to determine which solvents should be used. The operator can perform some chemical tests to find out which compounds are present in a sample and which solvents would be most appropriate for extracting them. Depending on the source and type of refining activity that has already taken place, the composition of the sample can be quite variable. Inappropriate solvents may fail to lift asphalt and other impurities, which would make the resulting oil less usable.
Refineries and chemical companies can experiment with new deasphalting technology to determine if cleaner, more usable materials can be produced more efficiently. Refining can consume significant energy, and companies need to consider how to process the solvents they use. They may be recyclable, in which case a recovery unit can recover them for use in another treatment, or they may need to be disposed of in a safe area. In both cases, time and energy are required to manage the solvents and keep the refinery running. Reducing costs associated with refining can keep prices within a reasonable range.
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