Solvent deasphalting upgrades low-value vacuum residue into commercially valuable products

Technology Type
Solvent De-Asphalting
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Kokel, Nicolas
2/13/2026 3:02 PM



Simplified SDA Process Flow Diagram | Source: Valv Technologies

Solvent Deasphalting (SDA) is a refinery process that separates asphalt (asphaltenes) from heavy petroleum fractions, primarily vacuum residue, using light hydrocarbon solvents.

This selective extraction process is positioned after the vacuum distillation tower in a crude oil refinery or bitumen upgrader, serving as a critical upgrading technology that converts low-value residues into higher-value products (Fig. 1).

The SDA separates the asphalt from the feedstock because light hydrocarbons will dissolve aliphatic compounds but not asphaltenes. The output from the de-asphalter unit is de-asphalted oil ("DAO") and asphalt. 

#solventdeasphalting  #sda  #deasphaltedoil  #dao  #baseoil  #vacuumresidue  #carbonrejection  #asphaltene 

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Prasad, Vishnu
2/16/2026 4:02 PM

Hi, 

 Generally, SDA plants use trayed columns or proprietary packed columns for extraction of "de-asphalted oil" from Short residue with a solvent. The extent of deasphalted oil extraction depends on the carbon number of alkane used as solvent. Typically static inline mixers are used for mixing a small portion of solvent with feed.
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Kokel, Nicolas
2/16/2026 8:18 PM

Thank you Prasad, Vishnu for this comment.  The above communication is only a snippet of the complete technology description for promotional purposes. In the communication header you can click on the link next to Technology Type:  Solvent De-Asphalting.
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