An investigation on solvent extraction of oil from Egyptian oil-shale

In the present work a study of the extraction of oil from oil shale supplied by Red-See Phosphate-company, using methylene chloride (boiling rang 40-45°C) was performed. The aim of this initial research was to determine the effects of the main factors, which can potentially influence the extraction of oil. The factors involved in this study were particle size, temperature, solvent-feed ratio (S/F) and the mixing intensity. Oil extraction rate was found to be diffusion-controlled (the activation energy was found to be 3.73 kJ/gm). Mass Transfer coefficient of the process under different conditions and the thermodynamic parameters were also determined.