Coal tar and hydrocarbon mixture pitch production using a high efficiency evaporative distillation process
AssigneeKoppers Industries of Delaware, Inc.
InventorsWilliam E. Saver, E. Ronald McHenry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are methods that utilize high efficiency evaporative distillation to make a high softening point coal tar pitch, a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free coal tar pitch having a desired softening point, and a mesophase coal tar pitch. Each of the methods uses a feed coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. The methods may be carried out using appropriate conventional distillation equipment, a wiped film evaporator, or a thin film evaporator.
Claims46
A method of making a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free coal tar pitch having a desired softening point, comprising the steps of:
- feeding a feed coal tar pitch having an initial softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. into a processing vessel, wherein said processing vessel is heated to a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. and wherein a pressure inside said processing vessel is 5 Torr or less;
- obtaining a distillate from said processing vessel, said distillate having a softening point in the range of 25° C. to 60° C. and being quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free;
- heat treating said distillate at a temperature in the range of 350° C. to 595° C. for between five minutes and forty hours;
- and distilling the heat treated distillate to obtain a pitch having the desired softening point.
A method of making a mesophase coal tar pitch, comprising of the steps of:
- feeding a feed coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. into a processing vessel, wherein said processing vessel is heated to a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. and wherein a pressure inside said processing vessel is 5 Tow or less;
- obtaining a distillate from said processing vessel, said distillate having a softening point in the range of 25° C. to 60° C. and being quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free;
- and heat treating said distillate at a temperature in the range of 370° C. to 595° C. for between three and forty hours.
A method of making a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free coal tar pitch, comprising of the steps of:
- feeding a feed coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. into a first processing vessel, wherein said first processing vessel is heated to a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. and wherein a pressure inside said first processing vessel is 5 Torr or less;
- obtaining a distillate from said first processing vessel, said distillate having a softening point in the range of 25° C. to 60° C. and being quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free;
- heat treating said distillate at a temperature in the range of 350° C. to 595° C. for between five minutes and forty hours;
- distilling the heat treated distillate to obtain a pitch having a desired softening point;
- feeding said pitch having a desired softening point into a second processing vessel, wherein said second processing vessel is heated to a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C.;
- and withdrawing an output coal tar pitch from said second processing vessel.
A method of making a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free hydrocarbon mixture pitch having a desired softening point, comprising the steps of feeding a feed hydrocarbon mixture pitch having an initial softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. into a processing vessel, wherein said processing vessel is heated to a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. and wherein a pressure inside said processing vessel is 5 Torr or less;
- obtaining a distillate from said processing vessel, said distillate having a softening point in the range of 25° C. to 60° C. and being quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free;
- heat treating said distillate at a temperature in the range of 350° C. to 595° C. for between five minutes and forty hours;
- and distilling the heat treated distillate to obtain a pitch having the desired softening point.
A method of making a mesophase hydrocarbon mixture pitch, comprising of the steps of:
- feeding a feed hydrocarbon mixture pitch having a softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. into a processing vessel, wherein said processing vessel is heated to a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. and wherein a pressure inside said processing vessel is 5 Torr or less;
- obtaining a distillate from said processing vessel, said distillate having a softening point in the range of 25° C. to 60° C. and being quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free;
- and heat treating said distillate at a temperature in the range of 370° C. to 595° C. for between three and forty hours.
A method of making a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free hydrocarbon mixture pitch, comprising of the steps of:
- feeding a feed hydrocarbon mixture pitch having a softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. into a first processing vessel, wherein said first processing vessel is heated to a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. and wherein a pressure inside said first processing vessel is 5 Torr or less;
- obtaining a distillate from said first processing vessel, said distillate having a softening point in the range of 25° C. to 60° C. and being quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free;
- heat treating said distillate at a temperature in the range of 350° C. to 595° C. for between five minutes and forty hours;
- distilling the heat treated distillate to obtain a pitch having a desired softening point;
- feeding said pitch having a desired softening point into a second processing vessel, wherein said second processing vessel is heated to a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C.;
- and withdrawing an output hydrocarbon mixture pitch from said second processing vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.