Process for production of needle coke from coal tar pitch and petroleum streams

A process for preparing a needle coke, the process comprising:

• subjecting a feed stream to a multi-residence time mild thermal cracking in presence of a petroleum stream to obtain a mixed pitch, wherein the feed stream comprises coal tar pitch (CTP), and wherein the petroleum stream is selected from the group consisting of clarified oil (CLO), pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO) and a combination thereof;
• purifying the mixed pitch through a solvent-assisted selective separation, to remove an undesirable quinoline insoluble (QI) and solid catalyst fines to obtain a purified mixed pitch, wherein the mixed pitch has a boiling point above 350° C.;
• and
• subjecting the purified mixed pitch to delayed coking to produce the needle coke and a lighter hydrocarbon component.