Preparation of petroleum pitch

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A PETROLEUM PITCH HAVING A SOFTENING POINT ABOVE 350*F. AND SUB STANTIALLY COMPLETE SOLUBILITY IN BENZENE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF DISTILLING IN AN ATMOSPHERIC DISTILLATION A PETROLEUM CRUDE OIL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NAPHTHENIC BASE CRUDE OILS ASPHALTIC BASE CRUDE OILS AND MIXTUTES THEREOF, SAID PETOLUM CRUDE OILS HAVING AT LEAST 30 PERCENT ASPHALTENESS IN THE RESIDUE FROM FLASH DISTILLATION AT A TEMPERATURE OF 1030*F., CORRESTED TO 760 MILLIMETERS OF MERCURY ABSOLUTE PRESSURE, OF THE FURNACE OILFREE BOTTOMS OF THE CRUDE OIL, HEATING THE BOTTOMS FROM THE ATMOSPHERIC DISTILLATION UNDER CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND RESIDENCE TIME SUBSTANTIALLY TO AVOID CRACKING OF THE BOTTOMS, ADDING STEAM TO THE HEATED BOTTOMS, AND VACUUM DISTILLING THE MIXTURE OF THE BOTTOMS AND STEAM AT AN ACTUAL TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 700* TO 800*F., THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURE AND THE AMOUNT OF STEAM AND THE ANSOLUTE PRESSURE IN THE VACUUM DISTILLATION BEING CORRELATED TO PROVIDE A FLASH TEMPERATURE OF 1050*F. TO ABOUT 1200*F., CORRECTED TO 760 MILLIMETERS OF MERCURY ABSOLUTE PRESSURE, TO FORM THE PITCH AS A RESIDUAL PRODUCT OF THE VACUUM DISTILLATION.