Pitch fractionation and high softening point pitch
AssigneeDTX Technologies LLC
InventorDonald P. Malone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for fractionating crude pitch by direct contact heating with molten metal is disclosed. The crude pitch, which may contain water, contaminants and/or distillables is heated by direct contact heat exchange with molten metal, preferably maintained as a metal continuous bath, operating at a temperature of 100 to 600° C. The molten metal heating zone is maintained at a temperature and pressure sufficient to vaporize a desired amount of contaminants or volatile material from crude pitch to produce pitch product having a desired softening point. New pitch materials, having a softening point above those achievable by conventional techniques, are also produced.
Claims17
A process for fractionating a crude pitch feed having a softening point and comprising a non-distillable pitch fraction and vaporizable diluents or contaminants to produce a liquid pitch product having a softening point of 200 to 600° F. comprising:
- a. heating said crude pitch by direct contact heat exchange with an immiscible molten fluid for a time sufficient to produce heated crude pitch,
- b. vaporizing at least a portion of said vaporizable diluent or contaminants from said heated pitch to produce a vapor phase comprising at least a portion of said diluent or contaminants and a liquid pitch product phase comprising pitch having an increased and desired softening point and a reduced content of vaporizable diluents or contaminants, as compared to said crude pitch feed, and
- c. recovering said liquid pitch product phase as a product of the process.
A process for fractionating a crude pitch feed containing non-distillable pitch and vaporizable diluents to produce a pitch overhead vapor product and a liquid pitch product having a softening point of 200 to 600° F. comprising:
- a. heating and at least partially vaporizing said crude pitch by direct contact heat exchange with molten metal in a heating zone for a time sufficient to produce heated and at least partially vaporized crude pitch, and
- b. recovering, as separate products from said heating zone, a vapor phase product comprising vaporizable diluents vaporized from said crude pitch and a liquid pitch product phase comprising pitch having a desired softening point and a reduced content of diluents or contaminants as compared to said crude pitch feed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.