Abstract: A process for increasing a softening point of isotropic pitch includes providing a hydrocarbon feed including isotropic pitch having a first softening point and mixing the hydrocarbon feed with a carrier gas such that a mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and the carrier gas establishes at least one chosen from an annular-mist flow regime and a mist flow regime. The annular-mist flow regime includes a liquid film layer and a dispersion of entrained droplets, and the mist flow regime includes a dispersion of entrained droplets. The mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and the carrier gas approaches a vapor-liquid equilibrium. The process also includes discharging an effluent of the mixture into a separation vessel and separating a vapor phase and a liquid phase in the separation vessel. The liquid phase includes isotropic pitch having a second softening point greater than the first softening point.

Abstract: A process for producing isotropic and mesophase pitch with reduced solids contamination from aromatic liquids contaminated with solids, such as catalyst fines or semi-coke. Contaminated feed is charged through one or more pitch forming reactors which discharge a pitch rich liquid and a vapor phase with reduced solids contamination. The vapor phase is cooled, condensed and may be charged continuously to another pitch forming reactor in parallel or used intermittently as a total or partial replacement for solids contaminated feed.