Abstract: A process for producing a pitch used as a raw material for producing carbon fibers is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of carrying out catalytic cracking of a hydrogenated residual oil prepared by hydrogenation treatment of a petroleum heavy residual oil or a mixture composed of said hydrogenated residual oil and a hydrogenated distillate oil which is prepared by hydrogenation treatment of a reduced pressure distillate oil prepared by reduced pressure distillation of the petroleum heavy residual oil. The resulting cracking oil is then distilled to produce a high boiling point fraction having a boiling point of 300.degree. C. or more. The fraction is then subjected to thermal modification. The pitch is then utilized to produce carbon fibers which have desirable characteristics. The process is advantageous in that it makes possible the use of a wide variety of different types of oils in order to produce a pitch which can be utilized in producing carbon fibers having desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A process for producing a pitch which is used as a raw material for producing carbon fibers is disclosed. The process comprises subjecting a petroleum heavy residual oil to hydrogenation treatment in the presence of catalysts, removing a low boiling point fraction of the oil by reduced pressure distillation, subjecting the resulting reduced pressure distillation residual oil to solvent extraction treatment, and carrying out thermal modification of the resulting extraction component.By utilizing the process for producing the pitch it is possible to use a wide variety of different types of oils in order to produce carbon fibers. The carbon fibers produced from the pitch produced according to the disclosed process have desirable characteristics.

Abstract: Coal, petroleum residuum and similar carbonaceous feed materials are subjected to hydroconversion in the presence of molecular hydrogen to produce a hydroconversion effluent which is then subjected to one or more separation steps to remove lower molecular weight liquids and produce a heavy bottoms stream containing high molecular weight liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material. The viscosity of the bottoms streams produced in the separation step or steps is prevented from increasing rapidly by treating the feed to the separation step or steps with ammonia gas prior to or during the separation step or steps. The viscosity of the heavy bottoms stream produced in the final separation step is also controlled by treating these bottoms with ammonia gas. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the effluent from the hydroconversion reactor is subjected to an atmospheric distillation followed by a vacuum distillation and the feeds to these distillations are contacted with ammonia during the distillations.

Abstract: A low melting point, low molecular weight, heptane insoluble, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene soluble mesophase pitch useful in carbon fiber spinning as such or as a plasticizer in a carbon fiber spinning composition is obtained by heating chrysene, triphenylene or paraterphenyl as well as mixtures thereof and hydrocarbon fractions containing the same, dissolving the resulting heat treated material with 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and separating the insolubles, and then contacting the 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene soluble fraction with a sufficient amount of heptane to precipitate the low melting point, low molecular weight mesophase pitch.

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: Coal tar pitch is contacted with a promoter liquid having a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 250.degree. F. and a 95 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 350.degree. F. and no greater than about 750.degree. F. with the liquid having a characterization factor of at least 9.75 to promote the separation of quinoline insolubles from the pitch. A coat tar pitch fraction essentially free of quinoline insolubles is then subjected to coking to produce a needle coke. The process is also applicable to separation of quinoline insolubles from coal tar derived binder pitch.

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.

Abstract: A process for producing a carbon fiber includes the steps of heat treating a selected precursor material under high pressure, thereafter solvent extracting the treated precursor material to obtain mesophase pitch, spinning the mesophase pitch into at least one pitch fiber, thermosetting the pitch fiber, and carbonizing the pitch fiber to obtain the carbon fiber.

Abstract: Mesocarbon microbeads of narrow particle-size distribution are produced by: subjecting a heavy oil to a primary heat treatment at a temperature T.sub.1 to prepare a pitch containing mesophase microspheres; once cooling this pitch to a temperature lower than its softening point; thereafter subjecting the pitch to a secondary heat treatment at a temperature T.sub.2, which is higher than 350.degree. C. and lower than (T.sub.1 -40.degree. C.); cooling the pitch at a cool rate lower than 200.degree. C./hour; separating from the pitch mesophase microspheres which precipitated in the secondary heat-treatment step; and thereafter obtaining by solvent extraction mesophase microspheres of substantially uniform particle size formed in the residual pitch. The mesocarbon beads of narrow particle-size distribution thus obtained are particularly suitable for use as chromatograph packing material, catalyst support, and other uses.

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.

Abstract: Raw petroleum coke is treated with a solvent to extract the soluble matter. The extracted matter is useful as coker feedstock, fuel, pitch binder, pitch precursor, impregnant and carbon black feedstock. The coke residue may be used without further treatment as a fuel or may be calcined for use in Hall aluminum cell anodes.

Abstract: Mesocarbon microbeads are continuously produced by the steps of: (1) mixing a matrix pitch, mesophase microspheres, and a solvent in which the pitch will dissolve but the microspheres will not, thereby to prepare a liquid mixture of a solution and dispersion; (2) processing the mixture in at least two stages of liquid cyclones, thereby to separate it into light and medium-weight liquids and a heavy liquid containing most of the microspheres; and (3) evaporating off the solvent from the heavy liquid thus obtained, thereby to obtain the microspheres as mesocarbon microbeads. The solvent is evaporated off from the light liquid to recover the pitch, and the medium-weight liquid is recycled to step (1) and (2).

Abstract: A low coking pitch suitable for carbon artifact manufacture, especially carbon fiber manufacture, is obtained by heat soaking and vacuum stripping the distillate recovered from cat cracker bottoms. Preferably a cat cracker bottom distillate boiling in the range of about 450.degree. C. to 510.degree. C. at 760 mm Hg is heat soaked at about 350.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. for up to about 20 hours and then vacuum stripped at below 400.degree. C.

Abstract: Methylnaphthalenes, indole and other tar bases are recovered from a base-extracted coal tar distillation fraction. In one form, an aqueous salt solution of pH 0.5-3 extracts other tar bases from the starting material, and thereafter both products are recovered from the raffinate by several alternate methods including ethylene glycol extraction and extractive distillation. In other forms, the starting material is extracted with ethylene glycol and the extract is distilled to recover several products including indole. The raffinate of ethylene glycol extraction contains methylnaphthalenes and other hydrocarbons and can be purified to solvent-grade material.

Abstract: An improved feedstock for carbon artifact manufacture, especially carbon fiber production, is made by reacting a carbonaceous isotropic graphitizable pitch with a dealkylation catalyst in the presence of an organic solvent system having a solubility parameter at 25.degree. C. of between about 8.0 to about 9.5 to provide a solvent insoluble fraction over and above that originally in the pitch which is suitable for carbon artifact manufacture.

Abstract: An asphalt-containing mineral oil can be deasphalted at temperatures above about 80.degree. C. with methanol serving as the deasphalting solvent. Two liquid phases are produced, an asphalt-rich phase and a methanol-rich phase. By cooling the methanol-rich phase to a temperature below 80.degree. C., two additional liquid phases are produced, an oil-rich phase and a methanol-rich phase.

Abstract: A porous carbon is prepared by first carbonizing a solid fraction (obtained from pitch and/or coal by solvent extraction and preferably being one soluble in quinoline and insoluble in methanol, n-heptane and toluene) to produce a first porous carbon, absorbing into the first porous carbon liquid fraction (obtained from pitch and/or coal by solvent extraction and preferably being one insoluble in methanol and soluble in n-heptane, toluene and quinoline and/or one insoluble in methanol and n-heptane and soluble in toluene and quinoline), and carbonizing the first porous carbon containing adsorbed liquid fraction to give a second porous carbon having a specific surface area greater than that of the first porous carbon. The first porous carbon may, prior to absorption therein of the liquid fraction, be `activated` e.g. by heating in air, to increase its pore size as may the second porous carbon. The porous carbon obtained may be used as a catalyst support.

Abstract: An energy efficient process for separating a hydrocarbonaceous material into various fractions. The hydrocarbonaceous material is admixed with a solvent and the mixture is introduced into a first separation zone maintained at an elevated first temperature and pressure. The feed mixture separates into a first light phase comprising solvent and at least a portion of the lightest hydrocarbonaceous material and a first heavy phase comprising the remainder of the hydrocarbonaceous material and some solvent. The first heavy phase is introduced into a second separation zone maintained at a second temperature level above the first temperature level and at an elevated pressure. The first heavy phase separates into a second light phase comprising solvent and a second heavy phase comprising at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material. The separated hydrocarbonaceous material fractions are recovered.

Abstract: Broadly stated, the present invention comprises: fluxing an isotropic carbonaceous pitch thereby rendering the pitch fluid. Next, the fluxed pitch is introduced into a heating zone where the temperature is maintained in the range of from about 350.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C., thereby resulting in the heat soaking of the fluxed pitch. In a continuous process, at least some of the fluxed pitch is simultaneously removed or drawn off from the heating zone and transferred to a cooling zone. The temperature in the cooling zone generally ranges from above the freezing point of the fluxed pitch to below the temperature in the heating zone, and in a particularly preferred embodiment is maintained at the boiling point of the organic liquid used to flux the pitch. Any solids suspended in the fluxed pitch after heat soaking and cooling are removed by filtering or the like.

Abstract: A process for the recovery and reutilization of materials in existing asphalt pavements includes comminuting existing asphalt pavement, subjecting the comminuted pieces to the action of a solvent is a dissolving zone to separate asphalt from other component materials, recovering solvent and asphalt dissolved therein from such zone separately from the other materials, drying and classifying the other material according to size, separating asphalt from the solvent, and transferring separated asphalt and the size-classified other materials to storage zones for subsequent reuse in the preparation of asphalt pavement.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a process for treating an isotropic carbonaceous graphitizable pitch with an organic fluxing liquid to provide a fluid pitch which has suspended therein substantially all of the quinoline insoluble material in the pitch and which solid material is readily separable by filtering, centrifugation and the like. Thereafter, the fluid pitch is treated in at least two steps with an antisolvent compound, the sum total of which is sufficient to precipitate at least a substantial portion of the pitch, the amount of antisolvent employed in each step increasing from the first step to the last step. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluid pitch is treated in two steps with an antisolvent compound with from 5% to 15% of the antisolvent compound being used in the first step and from 85% to 95% of the antisolvent compound being used in the second step.

Abstract: Isotropic carbonaceous pitches are fluxed with an organic liquid thereby providing a fluid pitch which has substantially all of the quinoline insoluble material suspended in the pitch and which quinoline insoluble material is readily separable from the fluid pitch by filtration, centrifugation and the like. Thereafter the pitch is treated with an anti-solvent so as to precipitate at least a substantial portion of the pitch free of the quinoline insoluble solids.

Abstract: A process for separating a solvent from a bituminous material by pressure reduction and steam stripping without carry-over of entrained bituminous material. A fluid-like phase comprising bituminous material and solvent is reduced in pressure by passage through a pressure reduction valve to vaporize a portion of the solvent. The reduction in pressure also results in dispersing a mist of fine bituminous material particles in the vaporized solvent. The stream of vaporized solvent, mist and fluid-like bituminous material then is introduced into a static mixer. The static mixer intimately mixes the mist with the fluid-like material and causes the mist to recombine with the fluid-like material from which it was formed. The resulting stream is introduced into a steam stripper to separate the solvent remaining in the bituminous material. The vaporized solvent and steam are withdrawn from the stripper substantially free of entrained bituminous material and condensed.

Abstract: A process for converting cat cracker bottoms to a feedstock suitable for carbon artifact manufacture, especially carbon fiber manufacture, is provided. Basically, the cat cracker bottom is stripped of fractions boiling below about 400.degree. C., heat soaked and then vacuum stripped to provide a suitable feedstock.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering re-usable bitumen from waste bituminous roofing felt and the like. The waste material is cooled, preferably to 0.degree. C. to 5.degree. C., and then comminuted to a particle size less than 5 mm, for example using a flail. The comminuted material is added to water and the material which floats is collected, melted and then filtered to remove particulate or fibrous impurities. Additives may be added to the molten material to adjust its melting point, according to the eventual use of the recovered bitumen. Any fibrous impurities filtered out may be treated with white spirit or kerosene to extract further bitumen, which is then recovered from the solvent.

Abstract: Waste products derived from coking coal, such as coal tar decanter wastes and wash oil muck, are processed to recover an oil fraction and a granular coke breeze residue. The wastes are mixed with a diluent oil, preferably having a saponification number of about 100 or more, are subjected to agitation and mixing and are thereafter filtered to produce a granular, coke breeze cake and a filtrate comprising water and oil which separate easily by decantation.

Abstract: Quinoline-insoluble components are separated from coal tar pitch by treating the coal tar pitch which has a softening point of greater than 60.degree. C. (according to the method of Kraemer-Sarnow) with a solvent mixture comprising at least one solvent with paraffinic characteristics and at least one tar solvent, wherein the treatment is carried out at a temperature in the range of 200.degree. to 270.degree. C.

Abstract: Solids are removed from solids-containing undistillable or difficultly distillable liquid hydrocarbon fractions by cooling, solidifying and pulverizing the solids-containing fractions, by contacting the pulverized material with solvent and by separating the solids, then the solvent, resulting in relatively solids-free hydrocarbon fractions.

Abstract: A process for effecting a deep cut in a heavy hydrocarbon material without a decrease in the quality of the extracted oil caused by the presence of undesirable entrained resinous bodies. The heavy hydrocarbon material is admixed with a solvent and introduced into a first separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure to effect a separation of the feed into a first light phase and a first heavy phase comprising asphaltenes and some solvent. The first light phase is introduced into a second separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure to effect a separation of the first light phase into a second light phase comprising oils and solvent and a second heavy phase comprising resins and some solvent. A portion of the first heavy phase is withdrawn and introduced into an upper portion of the second separation zone to contact the second light phase after which it separates therefrom.

Abstract: A process is provided for purifying filter-clogging coal tar residue of the type obtained by low-temperature carbonization of coal. Such coal tar residues include viscous organic coal tar constituents, particulate solid impurities and liquid water. Applicants' process includes the step of heating coal at 450.degree.-700.degree. C. at least substantially in the absence of air to thereby decompose the coal to products including coal tar, the coal tar being of the type containing liquid water, particulate solid impurities, and viscous organic coal tar constituents including light oils, the light oils incidentally combining with the liquid water to produce a filter-clogging emulsion.

Abstract: High quality carbon black forming material convertible with high yield into furnace black having a high abrasion resistance in rubber is prepared by dissolving pitch with conventional thinly liquid carbon black feed stock and mechanically separating suspended matter from the mixture obtained.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of a multi-component material to separate and recover the components thereof, and more particularly to the solvent extraction or treatment of waste asphalt shingles to recover, in reusable form, the filler, fiber, granules and like solid components as well as asphalt therefrom.

Abstract: A more efficient separation of asphaltic materials from the heptane soluble components in liquified coal and other liquified solid hydrocarbonaceous materials is accomplished by using a natural gasoline fraction, boiling in the range of from 200.degree.-400.degree. F., as a solvent extraction agent and then effecting a centrifugal separation at elevated temperatures and pressures. The resulting separated asphaltic materials will have far less heptane soluble material than the heretofore used procedures which involved the settling out of the asphaltenes in huge settling tanks.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing liquid-crystal containing pitches comprises extracting carbonaceous isotropic pitches with an organic solvent system to provide a solvent insoluble fraction which when heated for 10 minutes or less and to temperatures in the range of about 230.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. will upon polarized light microscopy examination of cooled samples display greater than 75% of an optically anisotropic phase.

Abstract: Asphalt compositions are provided containing a ductility improving amount of a refinery stream obtained in the form of a bottoms fraction from a thermofor catalytic cracking or fluid catalytic cracking operation.

Abstract: An improved process for making metallurgical coke is provided as follows. An effluent slurry consisting essentially of coal extract, solvent and undissolved coal is obtained from the liquefaction of coal by solvent extraction. Solvent is removed from the slurry by distillation to produce a bottoms product which contains non-distillable extract, undissolved coal and residual solvent. The bottoms product is flowable at elevated temperatures below its carbonizing temperature and solidifiable at lower temperatures. The bottoms product is blended with sufficient finely divided hot coaly solids (unsuitable per se for making metallurgical coke) in a hot blending zone which is maintained at a temperature above the softening point of the non-distillable coal extract and below the coking temperature thereof to produce a solidifiable product which, in particulate solidified state, serves as part or all of the feedstock to a coking zone to produce coke suitable for use in a blast furnace.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel asphalt composition suitable for use as a binder for carbon electrodes which consists essentially of a homogeneous blend of three organic materials comprising (1) a highly aromatic hydrocarbon solvent having a specific combination of physical properties and chemical constituency, (2) a benzene-soluble fraction of solvent-refined coal and/or solvent-refined wood, and (3) a benzene-insoluble fraction of solvent-refined coal and/or solvent-refined wood. The novel asphaltic compositions is characterized by low sulfur content and high binding strength, which are desirable properties for application as a carbon electrode binder.

Abstract: A process for increasing that fraction of an isotropic carbonaceous pitch which is capable of being thermally converted to an optically anisotropic carbonaceous pitch having less than 25 wt. % quinoline insolubles is described. Basically, the pitch is heated at elevated temperatures until spherules visible under polarized light begin to appear. Then heating is terminated and the pitch solvent extracted to provide a solvent insoluble fraction which is capable of being thermally converted to the optically anisotropic pitch.

Abstract: A more efficient separation of the asphaltenes from microcrystalline waxes in the bottoms from crude oil distillation is accomplished by using a natural gasoline fraction, boiling in the range of from 200.degree.-400.degree. F., as a solvent extraction agent and then effecting a centrifugal separation at elevated temperatures and pressures. The resulting separated asphaltenes will have far less microcrystalline wax content than the heretofore used procedures which involved the settling out of the asphaltenes in huge settling tanks.

Abstract: High quality carbon black forming material convertible with high yield into furnace black having a high abrasion resistance in rubber is prepared by dissolving pitch with conventional thinly liquid carbon black feed stock and mechanically separating suspended matter from the mixture obtained.

Abstract: A method for dewatering tar-water mixtures obtained from the coking of coal is disclosed. The method involves adding to the tar from 150 to 3,000 ppm of a di-tri butyl ethoxylated phenol compound dissolved in water, heating the tar-water mixture, and then agitating it to allow contact with the chemical additive. This is followed by allowing the mixture to settle forming an aqueous upper phase and a lower dewatering tar phase.

Abstract: In mixing coal tar and/or coal tar pitch with aromatic and aliphatic solvents at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature between 15.degree. C and 140.degree. C to prepare a raw material for the manufacture of needle coke, the mixing ratio of the aromatic and aliphatic solvents and their quantities of addition to the coal tar and/or coal tar pitch are adjusted so that insoluble substances precipitate in a pitch zone. A supernatant obtained by separating the insoluble substances is distilled, and hydrocarbons consisting substantially of aromatic compounds and freed of the insoluble substances are obtained. Then the hydrocarbons are used as the raw material for the manufacture of needle coke.

Abstract: This invention relates to the production of oils of specified higher quality at the same yield or to the production of a higher yield of oils of the same quality from a bituminous material by a combination of propane and pentane deasphalting than would otherwise be obtainable by utilizing either propane or pentane deasphalting processes alone. This is effected by subjecting the bituminous material first to a pentane deasphalting process to produce a light fraction containing resins and oils, followed by a propane deasphalting process on the resin-oil fraction previously obtained and the recycle of at least a portion of the resins fraction back to the pentane deasphalting process.

Abstract: Asphaltic material is dissolved by contact with a solvent composition for a time sufficient to dissolve the asphaltic material wherein the solvent composition is comprised of a liquid heavy aromatic solvent having a high flash point and a fused heterocyclic ring compound or compounds soluble in the heavy aromatic solvent. In another embodiment, the asphaltic material is the binder material of a degraded organic residue whereby dissolution of the asphaltic material enables the convenient disintegration of the degraded organic residue. In still another embodiment, the solvent composition is the oil phase of an oil-water emulsion.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon materials containing asphalt are separated into three different fractions according to chemical composition, namely, a paraffin-waxy fraction, a resin fraction, and an asphaltene-solids fraction, by a process comprising two-stage solvent treatment at different solvent-to-feed ratios and different temperatures. In another embodiment, a fourth product comprising an asphalt fraction can be produced by blending a portion of the resin fraction with a portion of the raffinate obtained from the first solvent extraction fraction stage.

Abstract: A process for preparing a carbon product which comprises mixing a carbon material, bitumen and a liquid medium to form a slurry, removing the liquid medium of said slurry along with at least a portion of the low molecular weight components of the bitumen to form a solid material, molding the separated solid material and then heat-treating the molded material.

Abstract: Pitch having a Kramer-Sarnow softening point between 70.degree. and 190.degree. C is heated to a temperature in the range of 40.degree. to 100.degree. C above the softening point thereof. There is thus obtained a molten mass having non-molten particles distributed therein. A filtering operation under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is carried out to remove the particles from the molten mass. The molten mass may then be treated in different ways. According to one embodiment, the molten mass is held at a temperature between 280.degree. and 350.degree. C to distill off low molecular weight components of the pitch and the resulting product is thereafter shaped by extrusion to the form of strands. According to another embodiment, the molten mass is cooled, ground to particulate form and contacted with an aliphatic solvent having a boiling point between 60.degree. and 70.degree. C.

Abstract: Asphaltic material is dissolved by contact with a solvent composition for a time sufficient to dissolve the asphaltic material wherein the solvent composition is comprised of a liquid heavy aromatic solvent having a high flash point and a fused heterocyclic ring compound or compounds soluble in the heavy aromatic solvent. In another embodiment, the asphaltic material is the binder material of a degraded organic residue whereby dissolution of the asphaltic material enables the convenient disintegration of the degraded organic residue. In still another embodiment, the solvent composition is the oil phase of an oil-water emulsion.

Abstract: Formcoke suitable for use in a blast furnace is made from a non-caking or weakly caking coal by converting the coal to an agglomeratable material consisting essentially of a blend of the entire product (without separation of extract and undissolved solids) obtained by solvent extraction of the coal in the presence of hydrogen and a suitable amount of hydrocarbonaceous solids. The agglomeratable material is agglomerated under low temperature carbonizing conditions and the agglomerates are thereafter calcined to produce strong formcoke.

Abstract: A method of separating tar from solid contaminant including the steps of dissolving the tar in a compatible solvent; and separating dissolved tar from solid material. Preferably, contaminated tar is caused to flow in a stream; solvent is introduced into the stream of contaminated tar; the contaminated tar and the solvent are caused to flow together a predetermined distance to permit dissolution of tar; and a diluted tar fraction is separated from a solid contaminant fraction.