Abstract: A process for refining coal-derived heavy carbonaceous materials such as pitch to remove quinline insolubles therefrom is disclosed. The process comprises providing a coal-derived heavy carbonaceous material from which all the components having normal boiling points of 270.degree. C. or below and all or part of the components having normal boiling points ranging from 270.degree. C. to 360.degree. C. have been removed; heating the heavy carbonaceous material to make it fluid; mixing the heated carbonaceous material with a ketone solvent having a boiling point below 200.degree. C. for a period sufficient to precipitate coarse insoluble particles in the mixture; separating the precipitated particles from the mixture; and removing the ketone solvent from the mixture, leaving a refined, coal-derived heavy carbonaceous material which is suitable for use in the production of high-grade carbon stocks such as needle coke, carbon fibers, high-purity carbon, etc., and for use as an impregnant or binder pitch.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of high-strength, high-density carbon materials is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of pulverizing a carbonaceous raw material having a carbon content of at least 92% by weight, a volatile content of 7-20% by weight up to 900.degree. C., and linear shrinkage as a molded body of at most 6% during heating up to 500.degree. C. to an average particle diameter of greater than 10 .mu.m and at most 40 .mu.m, followed by molding and baking. An organic fiber after baking in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of at least 400.degree. C. may be mixed with the pulverized carbonaceous raw material.

Abstract: A coal-based heavy oil is refined so as to remove quinoline insolubles and provide a hydrocarbon product suitable for making carbon stocks by heating to remove the volatile components which have boiling points ranging from the initial boiling point of the heavy oil to up to at least 200.degree. C. and at most 270.degree. C., thereby leaving a residual coal-based heavy oil, the residual coal-based heavy oil is mixed with a ketone-type solvent having a boiling point less than 200.degree. C. to form an insoluble precipitate (including quinoline insolubles) and a supernatent, the supernatent is treated to recover the ketone-type solvent, and the remaining hydrocarbon mixture is easily processed by vacuum distillation to produce a hydrocarbon product suitable for making carbon stocks.