New use for propane as deasphalting solvent

Petrosonic Energy Inc. found a new use for propane as a solvent in deasphalting, a process that separates asphalt and other compounds from petroleum products. According to Petrosonic, which filed a patent for its solution, propane is a more affordable solvent than a number of alternatives it’s used in the past. Petrosonic developed the solution along with Gas Liquids Engineering of Calgary, which engineered and validated the process. The new solution is called Sono Hi-P.

Kevin Bonde, project manager of Gas Liquids Engineering, says the solution entails a modification of the sonicators chamber. The new chamber solution would allow the sonication to be carried out by pressure rather than atmospheric conditions, Bonde says.