| abstract |
This invention provides for a process for separating extractable organic material from a feed composition comprising said extractable organic material intermixed with solids and water, the process comprising: (A) contacting said feed composition with a solvent mixture in an enclosed space, said solvent mixture comprising at least one first organic solvent and at least one second organic solvent, said first organic solvent being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said extractable organic material per million parts of said first organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said first organic solvent boils at atmospheric pressure, said second organic solvent being different than and more volatile than said first organic solvent and being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said first organic solvent per million parts of said second organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said second organic solvent boils at atmospheric pressure; (B) dissolving at least part of said extractable organic material in said solvent mixture to form a solvent-extract mixture; and (C) separating at least part of said solvent-extract mixture from the contents of said enclosed space, the remaining contents in said enclosed space comprising a treated product. |