Methods for production of pitch particles with reprocessing of pitch fines

Abstract

Pitch particles may be produced by a grinding process, in which pitch fines may be recovered and recycled to a grinding apparatus as a pitch melt. Such methods may comprise: providing a petroleum pitch having a first softening temperature; grinding the petroleum pitch in a grinding apparatus below the first softening temperature to produce a plurality of pitch particles and a plurality of pitch fines; separating the pitch particles from the pitch fines; heating the pitch fines at a temperature above the first softening temperature to produce a pitch melt; and combining the pitch melt with the petroleum pitch in the grinding apparatus. The pitch melt hardens in the grinding apparatus and is reground. The pitch particles may be further stabilized by heating at a treatment temperature below the first softening temperature in an environment comprising about 1 mol % to about 20 mol % oxygen to form stabilized pitch particles.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.