INTENSIFICATION OF DISTILLATION PROCESS O F DISPERSE SYSTEMS FORMED AT OIL-SHALE THERMAL DISSOLUTION

Thermal dissolution of oil shales yields a mixture of high-boiling liq uid products with the solid phase (benzene-soluble compounds), which c onsists of unreacted organic matter, mineral part and coke-like partic les (Table 1). A separation of such a suspension (slurry) by distillat ion is hindered due to the formation of strong inter- and intramolecul ar interaction bonds (Fig. 1). The effectiveness of slurry processing may be increased basing on the principles of physicochemical mechanics of disperse systems. In the case studied slurry was taken for a dispe rse system consisting of a disperse phase (aggregates, associates) and a disperse medium. The aggregates are represented by fine disperse pa rticles of the unreacted organic matter, mineral matter and coke-like particles, and asphaltenes constitute the base of associates. The disp erse medium includes mainly oils and tars. The distillation process wa s intensified by activating substances, intensive mixing and using of counterflow (Tables 2-4; Figs. 2-4). These measures led to decrease of surface tension in the boundary line of ''vapour-liquid'' phases and increased the yield of liquid products. Extracts of selective treatmen t of oil fractions and pyrolysis tars proved to be the most effective activating admixtures. Distillation in the flow of an evaporating agen t (nitrogen, superheated water vapour) in the apparatus equipped with plates with mobile scrapers yields under optimal conditions an ash res idue which has a satisfactory complex of properties of a binding mater ial. These shale-derived binding materials can be used as roadway cove rings and as roadbed. High-quality sand and ballast asphalt can be pro duced on their basis as well (Tables 5, 6).