| abstract |
Crude oil is recovered for subsequent refining by (a) exposing a fatty acid to a source of crude oil, (b) agitating to produce a solvated crude oil mixt. with reduced viscosity, (c) saponifying the mixt. by reaction with a nucleophilic base under pressure to separate the mixt. into a crude oil phase and an aq. soap phase, (d) separating the crude oil, and (e) reacting the aq. soap with an acid in a pressure vessel, separating the resulting fatty acid and recycling it to step (a). |