Abstract: A process for increasing the content of mesophase in a pitch includes using a high molecular aromatic fraction based on a material selected from the group consisting of coal tar, crude oil and their mixture in molten form, thermally treating the fraction in form of a thin, continously moving film, and removing volatile components by degassing during the thermal treatment. The process distinguishes in using a high molecular aromatic fraction which may contain mesophase, shaping the fraction continuously mechanically to a thin film with a layer of thickness of between substantially 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the mass separation of a liquid mixture through fractional crystallization, wherein the crystal layer is crystallized on the indirectly cooled wall of the crystallization zone. The mass transfer occurs in thin boundary layers which are produced by rising gas bubbles which glide as closely as possible along the heat-dissipating surfaces. The method is well suited for products which form only a soft crystal layer with a rough surface. It is carried out in a vertical pipe heat exchanger into the pipes of which (6) there extend into the lower part thereof gas-inlet pipes (7) which are mounted in the middle and are secured with centering pins (8). The maximum inside diameter of the pipes is dependent upon the optimum thickness of the crystal layer and of the concentration of the crystallizable component in the feedstock.

Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous or discontinuous process for coking high-boiling aromatic hydrocarbons to form high grade carbon products having only a narrow range of variation of physical and chemical properties. High-boiling aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures are coked in thin layers according to a defined temperature/time program, and the functional relationship between layer thickness and optimum coking time, which applies to that program for the particular hydrocarbon mixture used, is determined by means of a simple preliminary experiment. A small quantity of the hydrocarbon mixture used is coked on a microscope hot stage under standardized conditions to determine the minimum coking temperature, the time to the final coking temperature and the dependence of coking time on the layer thickness.

Abstract: A method of producing a highly reactive pitch fraction is disclosed. Coal-tar pitch is extracted with hot chloroform and the pitch solution treated with solid iodine. The solid reaction products are separated and, in the presence of chloroform, decomposed with an aqueous ammonia solution. Following separation of the aqueous phase and removal by distillation of the chloroform, there remains a highly reactive pitch fraction which can be converted into high-anisotropic carbon at low temperatures and in short coking times.

Abstract: Upgrading coke quality of coals by adding a pitch-like product with a softening point (K-S) of 90.degree.-160.degree. C. to the coal. The additive is obtained by treating finely divided coal or other carbon containing raw material with hydrocarbon solvents derived from coal and petroleum and then removing 2-20% of the light boiling components of the highly aromatic pitch-like product.

Abstract: An improved process for treating coal tar pitch to form anisotropic carbon comprising treating coal tar pitch with picric acid, recovering the resulting picrates, decomposing the picrates and heating the resulting aromatic hydrocarbons to obtain anisotropic carbon in less time.