Continuous process for industrially producing mesocarbon microbeads

A process for continuously producing mesocarbon microbeads which comprises the steps of:

• (a) mixing in a dissolving vessel (1) a starting-material pitch comprising a matrix pitch and mesophase microspheres obtained by heat processing a heavy oil and (2) a solvent in which the matrix pitch will dissolve but the mesophase microspheres will not dissolve thereby to obtain a liquid mixture comprising a solution of the matrix pitch dissolved in the solvent and dispersed mesophase microspheres;
• (b) supplying the liquid mixture thus obtained in step (a) into at least two sequential stages of liquid cyclones
• (i) the first of said two stages separating the mixture into a light liquid portion comprising principally the matrix pitch and the solvent and a heavier liquid portion containing most of the mesophase microspheres, and
• (ii) the second of said two stages separating said heavier liquid portion into a medium-weight liquid containing the matrix pitch and the solvent as well as a small portion of fine mesophase microspheres, and a heavy liquid containing the solvent as well as most of the mesophase microspheres;
• (c) evaporating the solvent from the light liquid thus obtained in step (b) thereby to separate and collect the matrix pitch;
• (d) recycling the medium-weight liquid thus obtained in step (b) to step (a) or step (b);
• and
• (e) removing the solvent from the heavy liquid thus obtained in step (b) thereby to obtain mesophase microspheres as mesocarbon microbeads.