الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
Abstract
The removal of multiple-ring (condensed) aromatics from the petroleum fractions in general and lubricating oil Feedstocks particularly have been conventionally done either by solvent extraction or hydrotreatment processes. Both techniques, however could attain reasonable rates in removing aromatics and sulfur compounds, but suffer from certain drawbacks. Specifically, the elevated operating costs of both routes due to the long operational time and its dependent massive energy consumption are big issues. Moreover, such methods have certain limitations with regard to the elimination of condensed aromatics generally and poly-aromatics specifically. In an attempt to overcome such restrictions, the current research study introduces a novel approach in the removal of condensed aromatic compounds by using microwave and ultrasound assisted solvent-extraction processes. Both microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (USAE), as modern techniques, were performed in parallel to the conventional extraction process to precisely compare the features of the obtained products of each process. Time of exposing the extraction system to the microwave and ultrasound radiations, the intensity of radiation power and solvent to feed ratio are the main investigated parameters during these modern techniques. Promising results have been detected at the end of the present research study. Extreme reduction in the operational time by applying microwave and ultrasound technologies, 15 and 30 min respectively, compared to the conventional extraction (90 min) was successfully attained. This reduction could be associated with extra-low energy consumption in the case of MAE & UsAE in comparison to the conventional route. Specifically, the energy consumption was reduced by 99.75% & 99.44 than that in the case of conventional solvent extraction. Likewise, an overall reduction in poly-aromatics content by 77 % could be observed through using either MAE or USAE while it was 53.5 % for the conventional route. Further reduction in the poly-aromatics content, reached to 81 %, was detected via using MAE and USAE combined together.