Abstract: Method of producing a baseoil having a reduced coking tendency by removing precursors from the baseoil. Baseoil having reduced coking tendencies which comprises a substantially no coking precursors therein.

Abstract: A process for improving the deasphalting of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock with a solvent by subjecting the feedstock to shearing alternatively after and/or before the addition of at least a portion of the solvent to the feedstock is disclosed. Alternative means for effecting the shearing and desired ranges of shear are also disclosed.

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: The unwanted components from coal tars should be removed at a certain stage of the process for producing homogeneous spinning pitches which are suitable for use in the production of high-performance carbon fibers from coal tars. The unwanted components can be eliminated from coal tars in a very efficient manner by the following procedures: subjecting the coal tars to distillation or flash distillation so as to separate a heavy component having a boiling point higher than a predetermined temperature, dissolving the heavy component in a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, and subjecting the solution to filtration or centrifugation.

Abstract: A method of removing salts from coal tar and coal pitches comprising washing coal tar or coal pitch in a pressure container with water and a carbon dioxide containing gas at a temperature and pressure near the critical point of the gas in the optional presence of at least one member of the group consisting of a solvent and an entraining agent, removing the liquid or dissolved tar or pitch to obtain tar or pitch with a low salt content and removing the aqueous phase whereby all the resins remain in the tar or pitch.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing pitch-based carbon fibers having the specific properties comparable to those of polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based carbon fibers, wherein an optically isotropic pitch obtained by polymerizing naphthalene at a temperature of not more than 330.degree. C. and heating the thus obtained polymeric material at a temperature of 330.degree. to 440.degree. C. while introducing an inert gas thereinto to remove volatile components therefrom, is subjected to melt-spinning, infusibilization (therosetting) and carbonization and the thus obtained carbonized-fibers are subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of not less that 900.degree. C. to obtain the carbon fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined process for separating and converting asphaltenes of high molecular weight and high softening point from heavy hydrocarbon material containing asphaltenes by a process that combines a deasphalting method to produce solid asphaltenes and a continuous coking procedure for the solid asphaltenes. The combined process converts the material into more valuable liquid hydrocarbon products of lower molecular weight and coke.

Abstract: Asphaltenes are separated from hydrocarbon oil by bringing the oil into contact with formic acid or a water-soluble organic acid consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and having at least two functional groups.

Abstract: For deasphalting an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon oil, employed is a hydrocarbon solvent of 3-8 carbon atoms, resulting in an asphaltic phase and a solution of deasphalted oil in the solvent. The solvent is then separated from the deasphalted oil, by passing the solution tangentially across an inorganic membrane of pore radii from 2 to 15 nonometers: the obtained filtrate has an increased solvent content and may be recycled. The deasphalted oil is selectively retained on the upstream side of the membrane.

Abstract: A process for deasphalting a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising two stages of precipitation from the feedstock of an asphaltene fraction alone or, alternatively, of a resin fraction along with the asphaltene fraction, by means of a heavy solvent and a light solvent, respectively, is disclosed.In accordance with the process, the heavy solvent and the light solvent both contain, in different proportions, at least one hydrocarbon having 3 carbon atoms and at least one hydrocarbon having at least 5 carbon atoms, the proportion of the hydrocarbon having 3 carbon atoms being higher in the light solvent than in the heavy solvent.

Abstract: A process for the production of pitch raw materials having improved properties comprising extracting coal-tar pitch free of solids with a mixture of a supercritical gas extracting agent and an entrainer at elevated temperatures and pressures, passing the extraction mixture to a plurality of separation steps where the supercritical gas and entrainer are removed by lowering the pressure and/or raising the temperature, recycling the mixture of extracting agent and entrainer to the extraction step and recovering the pitch fractions from the separation step, the said pitch fractions being useful for diverse purposes such as soot production, electrode bonding agents, etc.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the working up of salvage oil, in which the salvage oil is subjected to an extraction under supercritical conditions. The halogen compounds contained in the produced extract are removed by catalytic hydrogenation. The extraction residue is eliminated by deposition or thermal treatment (gasification). In the case of a thermal treatment of the extraction residue, other residues can be simultaneously converted, so that the process is performed without yield of environmentally burdensome residues or by-products. Ethane in particular and/or propane is employed as solvent for the supercritical extraction.

Abstract: In the solvent refining of a residual oil, a mixture of refined oil and refining solvent, and a mixture of pitch impurities and refining solvent are introduced into separate zones of a combination tower operated at a pressure of no greater than 100 psig to recover refining solvent from each of the mixtures. The combination tower is preferably A modified crude distillation tower from a preexisting crude unit, whereby idle crude units may be converted to solvent refining.

Abstract: In a deasphalting process wherein the deasphalted oil is separated from the deasphalting solvent, the invention consists of performing said separation in at least two separate steps, differing by their temperatures, and of recovering heat from the deasphalted oil.The oil to be deasphalted (26) passes through an extractor (1), then through heat recuperators (3) and (4). The oil-solvent separation is achieved in two steps (5) and (11), under supercritical conditions, at different temperatures. The process has the particular advantage of saving power since external heat is provided (10) to only part of the charge.

Abstract: Asphaltenes and/or wax and/or water are removed from crude oil by contacting the crude oil with an organic solvent to dissolve the crude oil and precipitate asphaltenes and/or wax and separate the oil and water. Solvent is then separated from the deasphalted and/or dewaxed and/or dehydrated crude oil.Removing asphaltenes, wax and/or water reduces the viscosity of the crude oil and it can then be transported, e.g. by pumping through a pipeline, with less expenditure of energy.

Abstract: A carbonizable body is formed by infusing a plurality of preoxidized, preferably stabilized by known processing to have about 17 to 30 weight percent oxygen, fibers prepared from pitch, in a non-polar liquid plasticizer, typically quinoline, capable of extracting a tarry leachate from the fibers. The infusion of the fibers in the plasticizer is continued for a sufficient time for a substantial amount of leachate to form on the surface of the fibers. The treated fibers are then consolidated or diffusion-bonded to one another or other fibers, as by orienting the treated fibers in a mold and subjecting them to isostatic pressing at relatively low temperatures and pressure. Further processing of the consolidated fibers with appropriate heat treatment in an inert atmosphere will produce a carbonized bulk product with higher values of Young's modulus for the carbonized material than have been previously achieved at such carbonization temperatures.

Abstract: A carbonizable body is formed by infusing a plurality of preoxidized, preferably stabilized by known processing to have about 9 to 14 weight percent oxygen, polyacrylonitrile fibers in a polar liquid plasticizer, preferably water, capable of extracting a tarry leachate from the fibers. The infusion of the fibers in the plasticizer is continued for a sufficient time for a substantial amount of leachate to form on the surface of the fibers, and are then consolidated or diffusion-bonded to one another or other fibers, as by orienting the treated fibers in a mold and subjecting them to isostatic pressing at relatively low temperatures and pressure. Further processing of the consolidated fibers with appropriate heat treatment in an inert atmosphere will produce a carbonized bulk product with higher values of Young's modulus for the carbonized material than have been previously achieved at such carbonization temperatures.

Abstract: A method of producing a precursor pitch suitable for the production of carbon fibers, which method includes dissolving a coal tar pitch in a particular solvent to remove a solvent insoluble matter, distilling off the solvent to obtain a purified pitch containing no free carbon, and heat-treating the purified pitch to obtain an objective precursor pitch.

Abstract: A method for the production of a carbon fiber precursor from coal tar pitch comprising extracting coal tar pitch at elevated temperatures and pressures with a mixture of a supercritical gas and an entraining agent to obtain a solution free of quinoline-insoluble components, recovering from the solution by lowering the pressure and/or raising the temperature to obtain at least one fraction selected from the group consisting of quinoline-soluble fraction and toluene-soluble fraction, treating the said fraction(s) at 380.degree. to 450.degree. C. under a non-oxidizing atmosphere at atmosphere pressure until 40 to 65% by volume of the product is converted into pitch containing mesophase, extracting the latter pitch with a mixture of supercritical gas and an entraining agent to remove isotropic pitch and recovering isotropic pitch with a mesophase content of at least 75% by volume, a pyridine-insoluble matter content of 20 to 50% by weight, a mean molecular weight of 900 to 1200 and a melting point of 330.degree.

Abstract: This process for fractionating solid asphalts is operable under low temperature and pressure conditions.The process consists of treating a suspension of asphalt powder in a surfactant-containing aqueous phase by means of a hydrocarbon solvent immiscible with water and of separating:an hydrocarbon phase containing asphalt of softening point lower than that of the initial asphalt, andan aqueous phase wherein is suspended asphalt of softening point higher than that of the initial asphalt.

Abstract: The metals content of petroleum feedstocks, particularly those feedstocks comprising maltenes and asphaltenes, is reduced prior to further processing by contacting the feedstock with phosphoric acid.

Abstract: An improved method for deasphalting and demetallizing heavy oils, where the improvement is a counterflow washing step which increases the yield of the product oil. A heavy oil feedstream is contacted in a countercurrent manner with a solvent in a multi-stage extraction zone and a resulting light phase stream is heated and passed into a settling zone. A second light phase stream comprised of the product deasphalted and demetallized oil and solvent is separated from a contaminant-laden heavy phase in the settling zone. The contaminant-laden heavy phase, which is termed a resin phase, contains an equilibrium amount of DMO and solvent. DMO-enriched solvent is displaced from the resin stream by means of a counterflow washing process using pure solvent.

Abstract: Process for deasphalting a hydrocarbon charge by means of a deasphalting solvent.The charge (1) is introduced, at 100.degree.-200.degree. C., in admixture with a deasphalting solvent (3and 4), into a settler (7). The deasphalted oil (24) is separated from the solvent (23). Asphalt (9) is washed in a column and then separated from the washing liquid (21).

Abstract: A feed is subjected to deasphalting to separately recover oil, resin and pitch. The resin fraction is upgraded to valuable product, for example, by hydrogenation or visbreaking, and heavier components from the upgrading are recycled to the deasphalting for removing pitchlike components prior to being recycled to the upgrading step.

Abstract: A delayed coking process and a solvent deasphalting process are combined so that an asphalt mix of asphalt and solvent from the solvent deasphalting process is sent as feedstock to the delayed coking process to form coke and intermediate hydrocarbon vapor and liquid products. The vaporization of the solvent in a delayed coker heater assists the flow of the asphalt mix through the heater, and a portion of the asphalt mix is directed to a delayed coking fractionator so that the flow of solvent through the delayed coking heater can be adjusted by varying the relative amounts of asphalt mix sent to the delayed coker heater and to the fractionator. A deasphalted oil mix of deasphalted oil and solvent from the solvent deasphalting process is heated by hotter fluid products from a fractionator in the delayed coking process, and makeup solvent to a solvent deasphalting section is heated by vapors in the fractionator overhead.

Abstract: A process of preparing a donor solvent for coal liquefaction. Liquefied coal is distilled to separate the coal into a fraction having a boiling point less than about 350.degree. F. and a residue having a boiling point greater than about 350.degree. F. The residue from the distillation is deasphalted in a first solvent capable of substantially extracting from the residue a first oil comprising lower molecular weight compounds and saturated compounds. The residue from the first deasphalting step is then deasphalted in a second solvent capable of substantially extracting from the residue a second oil comprising concentrated aromatic and heterocyclic compounds and leaving in the residue asphaltenes and ash. The second oil can be used as a donor solvent. The second oil extracted in the second deasphalting step is preferably partially hydrogenated prior to use as a donor solvent for the liquefaction of coal.

Abstract: Pitch free from quinoline insoluble components is prepared by heat-treating coal tar or coal tar pitch in the absence or in the presence of carbonaceous particles and centrifuging at a high temperature the reaction product resulting from the heat treatment or a mixture of the reaction product from the heat treatment and coal tar-type light or middle oil.

Abstract: A method of producing carbon materials having high density and strength, which method includes starting from a calcined product or its classified product having particular properties obtained by calcining a residue after heat treatment, solvent extraction and filtration of coal tar pitch at 250.degree.-500.degree. C. in an inert gas atmosphere, and then molding, firing and graphitizing it.

Abstract: Pitch for the production of carbon fibers which contains from 5 to 40% of the optically anisotropic region which is insoluble in organic solvents having a solubility parameter from 7.4 to 9.0 but is soluble in organic solvents having a solubility parameter from 9.2 to 11.0.

Abstract: Flux solvents and/or pitch neomesophase anti-solvents used in the generation of carbon fiber precursors from pitch are separated from mixtures of such solvent and uncoverted carbon fiber precursors by contacting said mixtures with asymmetric hydrophobic membranes under conditions of reverse osmosis. The membranes used in this separation are asymmetric polyimide membranes and asymmetric polyvinylidene fluoride membranes. Separation conditions include a contacting pressure sufficient to overcome the osmotic pressure of the solvent. The pressure is typically about 300 to 1000 psi. Contacting temperature is about 0.degree. to 100.degree. C., preferably about 20.degree. to 80.degree. C. The membrane of choice is an asymmetric polyimide membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specialty pitches having low Q.I. content, lower viscosity, lower average Q.I. particle size, lower ash content, higher toluene insoluble and beta-resin content. They may be prepared by extracting the coal-tar material with a solvent, where the solvent contains at least one n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and the wash oil fraction of coal-tar distillate. The solvent-dissolved fraction of the coal-tar material is then distilled to obtain the specialty pitch material.

Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from tar sands comprises a two-stage extraction wherein both specific and non-specific solvents are used to obtain a bitumen product low in fines and asphaltenes.

Abstract: Solvent refining of a residual oil is accomplished with a refining solvent containing methanol and propanol, preferably isopropanol. The solvent produces high yields of a high quality refined oil, as well as a pumpable pitch fraction.

Abstract: Heavy oil derived from coal is diluted with organic solvent to a content of less than 10 weight percent of toluene-insoluble material. The mixture is then mixed with a non-aromatic solvent in a ratio of 1:3 to 5:1. With slow stirring of the heavy phase at a temperature of between 50.degree. and 200.degree. C., this mixture is separated into a pumpable TI-poor and a pumpable TI-rich fraction under the action of gravity, with a settling-surface load of up to 1 metric ton/m.sup.2 hour. No .beta.-resins are precipitated from these fluid fractions. No tacky, rubber-like sediment is formed from the TI-rich fraction. The fractions are distillatively separated from the solvents, which can be reused. The TI-poor fraction can be used, for example, as a carbon-black oil component or can be processed further to an impregnating agent for carbon shapes. Binders for carbon shapes or cokes are obtained from the TI-rich fraction.

Abstract: This invention is based upon a new concept in carbon artifact manufacture, wherein a precursor can be manufactured by blending extracted components of at least one pitch to give an optimized mixture having the proper chemistries and rheology to provide high strength carbon artifacts.

Abstract: A precursor pitch suitable for production of carbon fiber which is excellent in thermal stability, spinnability, infusibility and is few in impurities, is produced by heating a coal tar pitch at a temperature of 350.degree.-500.degree. C. to form mesophase and extracting the thus heated pitch with a tar series light oil to obtain the precursor pitch.

Abstract: Precursor pitch to be used for formation of carbon fiber is produced by heating a coal tar soft or middle pitch at a temperature of 350.degree.-500.degree. C. at a first stage to form mesophase, extracting the thus treated pitch with a solvent, separating and removing the solvent insoluble portion including mesophase to obtain a pitch containing no free carbon and further at the second stage heat-treating the pitch containing no free carbon in an inert gas atmosphere under atmospheric pressure or a reduced pressure under the following condition600-1.2 T.ltoreq..theta..ltoreq.1,800-3.6 T(provided that 350.ltoreq.T.ltoreq.500)wherein T(.degree.C.) is the temperature of the heat treatment and .theta. (min) is the time for which said temperature is held, to form bulk mesophase pitch containing 20-60% by weight of quinoline insoluble portion.

Abstract: A process for separating substantially dry asphaltenes of high softening point from heavy hydrocarbon material comprising:(a) admixing heavy hydrocarbon material containing asphaltenes with a solution of deasphalted oil and an aliphatic hydrocarbon precipitant in a first mixing zone to form a mixture and precipitate asphaltenes;(b) in a first separation zone the mixture from step (a) into (i) a first solution of deasphalted oil and precipitant and (ii) a slurry of solid asphaltene particles in a solution of precipitant and desasphalted oil;(c) separating the first solution of step (b) to obtain said precipitant and the deasphalted oil almost free of asphaltenes;(d) introducing the slurry of asphaltenes of step (b) into a second mixing zone and washing the slurry with a volume of fresh precipitant to remove deasphalted oil;(e) introducing the mixture from the second mixing zone into a second separation zone that comprises a centrifugal decanter to separate a liquid phase from a highly concentrated slurry of so

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering a solvent from a mixture containing the solvent is disclosed. In certain aspects, a portion of the recovered liquid is recycled and used in the evaporative process, such as for the seal liquid in a liquid ring vacuum pump. In another aspect, the initial separation is achieved in a thin film evaporator operating under partial vacuum from the liquid ring vacuum pump.

Abstract: A method for recovery of extraction solvent from a dissolved solute wherein halogen gas evolution and halogen compound retention in the solute are minimized comprises heating a solution of a halogenated organic solvent and the extracted solute in the presence of an ammonium, Group I metal or Group II metal salt of an acid of carbon number 1 to 6, such as ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium formate, sodium carbonate, sodium formate, or calcium formate, to recover the solvent and the solute.

Abstract: A composition for an optically anisotropic carbonaceous pitch suitable for the production of a carbon material having a high tensile strength and a high modulus of elasticity. The composition comprises about 2 to 20 percent by weight of a first, n-heptane-soluble component, about 15 to 45 percent by weight of an n-heptane-insoluble and benzene-soluble, second component and the balance of the composition including benzene-insoluble components. The composition has a volume ratio of an optically anisotropic phase of at least about 90% and a softening point of up to about 320.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing a highly anisotropic aromatic pitch characterized by a high content of toluene insolubles, a low melting point, a low viscosity, and low content of quinoline insolubles by heat soaking a petroleum pitch derived from catalytic cracking residue at high temperatures for a short time followed by stripping the distillable oils. The pitch made in accordance with this process will yield a highly anisotropic carbon on carbonization at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for decreasing and modifying the quinoline-insoluble content (Q.I.) of coal-tar materials; and comprises extracting the coal-tar material with a solvent, where the solvent contains at least one of n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and the wash oil fraction of coal-tar distillate. Pitches with a diminished Q.I. content, lower viscosity and lower average Q.I. particle size, may be prepared from coal-tar materials which have been so treated.

Abstract: A spinnable precursor from petroleum pitch is obtained by isolating a particular fraction of a molten carbonaceous pitch, which has had at least a portion of the polycondensed aromatic oils normally present in the pitch removed. The deoiled pitch is then subjected to a two-stage extraction in an organic solvent in which it has a reversed solubility curve, followed by thermal treatment. The thus obtained precursor can be directly spun into fiber.

Abstract: A spinnable precursor from petroleum pitch is obtained by subjecting a distillable oil removed carbonaceous residue of petroleum origin to solvent extraction and thereafter heat treating the extracted solvent insoluble fraction under reduced pressure.

Abstract: A method of separating a process material comprising oils, resins and asphaltenes into at least three fractions. The process material is mixed in a mixing zone with a solvent selected from the group consisting of paraffinic hydrocarbons having between about 3 and about 8 carbon atoms. The process material-solvent mixture is introduced into a first separation zone to form an asphaltene-rich first heavy fraction and a resin-rich intermediate fraction, separated by a first liquid-liquid interface, and to form a first light fraction, rich in solvent and oils, separated from the intermediate fraction by a second liquid-liquid interface.The first heavy fraction and the intermediate fraction are withdrawn from the first separation zone. The first light fraction is introduced into a second separation zone to separate a second heavy fraction, rich in oils, and a second light fraction, rich in solvent.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock may be selectively separated into its various fractions by contact with a mixture of specified polar and nonpolar solvents at a temperature so as to form a two-phase system, separating the first extract and raffinate phases so obtained, cooling the raffinate (nonpolar) phase so that three phases form, and separating the three phases. The three phases obtained consist of the polar solvent containing low molecular weight polars, the nonpolar solvent containing the saturates and aromatics, and an asphaltene-containing phase. The asphaltene-containing phase may be further washed to yield an asphalt with a higher microcarbon residue than the non-washed asphalt.

Abstract: The recovery of hydrocarbon values from high metals content feeds can be carried out more efficiently via supercritical extraction with recycle of a portion of the asphalt product and proper control of the use of countercurrent solvent flow to said extraction.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing liquid crystal containing pitches includes extracting carbonaceous isotropic pitches with an organic solvent system which comprises at least one member of the group consisting of dioxane, dimethylacetamide, and tetramethylurea.

Abstract: A process for producing a pitch which can be utilized as a raw material for producing carbon fibers is disclosed. The process involves distilling a petroleum heavy residual oil under reduced pressure to produce a reduced pressure distillation residual oil or a reduced pressure distillate oil. The distillation residual oil is subjected to a solvent deasphaltening treatment to produce a solvent deasphaltened oil. The solvent deasphaltened oil or the reduced pressure distillate oil is subjected to solvent extraction to obtain a solvent extraction component. The solvent extraction component is thermally modified to produce the pitch. The pitch can be utilized in a melt-spinning process in order to produce carbon fibers having desirable characteristics.