Abstract: A high coking value pitch prepared from coal tar distillate and has a low softening point and a high carbon value while containing substantially no quinoline insolubles is disclosed. The pitch can be used as an impregnant or binder for producing carbon and graphite articles.

Abstract: Methods for treating a subsurface formation and compositions produced therefrom are described herein. At least one method for producing hydrocarbons from a subsurface formation includes providing heat to the subsurface formation using an in situ heat treatment process. One or more formation particles may be formed during heating of the subsurface formation. Fluid that includes hydrocarbons and the formation particles may be produced from the subsurface formation. The formation particles in the produced fluid may include cenospheres and have an average particle size of at least 0.5 micrometers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a way to process heavier hydrocarbons in a relatively low cost and low pressure process using a combination of superheated steam and at least one reaction gas to i) promote oxidation and thermal reaction of heavier hydrocarbons, while simultaneously ii) removing volatile components with a steam stripping process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a way to increase the softening point of heavier hydrocarbons in a relatively low cost and low pressure process using superheated steam to i) increase the carbon yield of the heavier hydrocarbons, while simultaneously ii) removing volatile components with a steam stripping process.

Abstract: The present invention provides carbonized pitch articles and methods for producing the same. Synthetic mesophase pitch is mixed with partially anisotropic pitch, which may be selected from heat-soaked isotropic pitch and heat-soaked mixtures of isotropic pitch and mesophase pitch. In producing carbon moldings, the mesophase pitch is first stabilized to make it at least partially infusible, prior to mixing. In producing carbon fibers, the mesophase pitch will not typically be stabilized before mixing, rather, the resultant pitch fiber, produced from the mixture, will be stabilized by oxidation and air. The resultant fibers and moldings are carbonized according to conventional methods.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed that relate generally to a process for reducing harmful or unwanted emissions during the production of asphalt, such as blue smoke. The process includes the introduction of a pump around of the wax oil fraction for re-introduction into the vacuum tower. Additional desirable features include stripping trays below the wax oil collection tray and the feed zone. The result is to produce an asphalt product that creates less blue smoke in the hot mix plant. Another desirable feature is that a product can be created that meets Performance Grade specifications with the addition of polymers or other additives.

Abstract: A method for producing a high-flash-point impregnating pitch that comprises charging coal tar into a batch still; heating the coal tar to an intermediate liquid state of soft pitch; maintaining the intermediate temperature of the soft pitch at a steady level; and introducing sparging gas while maintaining the temperature of the coal tar at a substantially steady level. The method of the present invention provides a pitch that has a softening point of about 90° C. and a flash point of above about 270° C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a high-softening-point pitch rich in mesopores having a softening point measured by temperature gradient method of 150° C. or higher, a weight loss by heating up to 300° C. of 5 wt. % or less and mesopores of 100 mm3/g or greater, in terms of minute pore volume calculated by the Dollimore-Heal method, and a process for making carbonaceous materials carrying metal thereon are disclosed. The high-softening-point pitch rich in mesopores can easily provide carbonaceous material carrying metal thereon by using no oxidizing agent such as nitric acid, and, therefore, the high-softening-point pitch rich in mesopores is especially suitable for the production of carbonaceous materials carrying metal thereon or highly crystalline graphitized carbonaceous materials in a short heating time.

Abstract: In a method for reducing hydrogen chloride emissions from an asphalt blowing process, ferric chloride and/or ferrous chloride are added to the asphalt. A chemical modifier is also added to the asphalt. The asphalt is subjected to a blowing process which produces hydrogen chloride emissions. The addition of the chemical modifier reduces the hydrogen chloride emissions by at least 25% compared to the same process without the addition of the chemical modifier. The addition of the ferric chloride and/or ferrous chloride provides beneficial effects such as increased blowing rate and increased final penetration of the asphalt. Preferably, the addition of the chemical modifier does not significantly reduce these beneficial effects.

Abstract: A process for significantly decreasing processing time, reducing capital costs, increasing yield, improving quality, and improving the safety of refining petroleum residues and sludges generated by the oil producers, refineries and re-refiners comprising the steps of heating under vacuum the petroleum residues and sludges with steam or inert gas injection or both until a temperature ranging from between 680.degree. F. to 1000.degree. F. is attained and holding the mixture at this temperature for a short residence time of from less than an hour to abut 6 hours while vacuum and sparging are being carried out to generate asphalt. Volatile products are condensed to produce fuel, waxy oil and can be further processed to produce refined fuel, wax and dewaxed oil.

Abstract: A process for producing high-quality pitches comprising atomizing a preheated feed material of carbonaceous tar and/or pitch, forming an aerosol, contacting the aerosol in a reaction vessel with a flowing, non-reactive gas atmosphere for less than about 10 seconds at a gas temperature of about 1400.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F., and separating and recovering a liquid fraction of the liquid formed in the reaction vessel which remains in a liquid phase up to a distillation temperature of about 750.degree. F.

Abstract: A method of processing hydrocarbon substances including coal, heavy crude oil, and bitumen by hydrogenating the hydrocarbon substance with a gas containing from 20%-100% hydrogen at a pressure in the range of from 50 bar to 700 bar and at a temperature in the range of from 250.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. to produce a hydrogenation residue which is treated in a secondary stripping operation using hydrogen gas at a pressure between about 1.2 bar and 150 bar to recover light hydrocarbon gases from the hydrogenation residue.

Abstract: Commercially attractive continuous processes for the preparation of mesophase pitches for manufacturing high-performance carbon fibers are disclosed. One feature resides in that conversion of a pitch into a mesophase pitch is conducted continuously by using a unique continuous dispersion-heat-treating apparatus.

Abstract: In a process for the production of carbon fibers from high boiling bituminous substances in which a purified and polymerized concentrated carbon fiber precursor is spun into fibers which are oxidized and then carbonized and optionally graphitized, the improvement comprising just before spinning a supercritical gas is dissolved in mesophase pitch at a pressure of 100 to 350 bars and a temperature up to 150.degree. K. below the melting temperature of the mesophase pitch to form a low viscosity melt, separating the latter into an isotropic phase and an anisotropic carbon fiber precursor and spinning the latter into fibers whereby the spinning temperature is lowered and the mesophase contact is increased due to the viscosity lowering activity of the supercritical gas.

Abstract: Lignin is removed from a crude tall oil in the production of tall oil fractions suitable for use as chemical ingredients and additives in other products by sparging the crude tall oil at a temperature of between about 350.degree. F. to 400.degree. F. with a carrier gas to depolymerize and remove from the tall oil lower molecular weight lignin materials.

Abstract: A novel coal tar based, low solids content, pitch is produced by oxidizing a selected coal tar distillation fraction with air to oxygen at elevated temperatures. This pitch is applicable to end use in which low solids content is desirable. Specifically it may be advantageously applied to the impregnation of carbon electrodes. The oxidized selected coal tar based low solids material described is characterized by high carbon yield and higher product density and has a higher in situ coking value and lower sulfur content which make it particularly beneficial when it is used as an impregnating pitch as compared to the currently commercially used petroleum based pitch.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing an optically anisotropic pitch which comprises heating a pitch feed material at a temperature within the range of about 350.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. while passing an inert gas therethrough at a rate of at least 2.5 SCFH/lb of pitch feed material and agitating said pitch feed material at a stirrer rate of from about 500 to 600 rpm to obtain an essentially 100% mesophase pitch product suitable for carbon production.