Process for preparing composition containing carbon and low sulfur, nitrogen and ash content

Process for carburizing iron or steel comprising adding to molten iron or steel a composition consisting essentially of carbon and containing only a small amount of ash, nitrogen and sulfur, said composition comprising a product obtained by:

• A. drying a hydrous soot paste having a water content of about 40 to about 70 percent by weight with a hot flue gas having a temperature of about 600.degree. C in a direct current operated dryer to form:
• 1. a vapor stream having a temperature of about 137.degree. .+-. 20.degree. C;
• and
• 2. a dried soot product having a water content of about 5 to about 20 percent by weight and a temperature of about 73.degree. .+-. 10.degree. C;
• B. mixing said dried soot with about 10% to about 40% by weight of ground, hard pitch from bituminous coal, soft pitch from bituminous coal, ground petroleum pitch or bitumen;
• C. carbonizing said dried soot in a vertical flue oven by heating at a flue temperature of about 900.degree. to about 1300.degree. C for about 25 to about 40 hours;
• and
• D. drying, comminuting and classifying the resulting composition.