Vacuum or steam stripping aromatic oils from petroleum pitch

Claim 2

A process for preparing a feedstock capable of being converted into a deformable pitch containing greater than 75% of an optically anisotropic phase comprising: removing from 40% to 90% of the aromatic oils present in isotropic carbonaceous residues of petroleum origin by vacuum or steam stripping and thereafter heat soaking the balance of the residue at temperatures in the range of 350° C. to 450° C. for times ranging generally from about 5 minutes to 10 hours.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the vacuum of steam stripping and heat soaking are conducted simultaneously.

Claim 4

In the process of preparing an isotropic carbonaceous pitch suitable for carbon artifact manufacture, from a carbonaceous residue of petroleum origin, the improvement comprising heat soaking said carbonaceous residue at temperatures in the range of from about 350° C. to 450° C. for times ranging from 5 minutes to 10 hours at pressures below about 25 inches mercury, whereby at least 40% to 90% of the aromatic oils present in said carbonaceous residue of petroleum origin is removed therefrom and an isotropic carbonaceous pitch capable of being converted to an optically anisotropic phase is obtained.

Claim 5

In the process of preparing an isotropic carbonaceous pitch suitable for carbon artifact manufacture, from a carbonaceous residue of petroleum origin, the improvement comprising heat soaking said carbonaceous residue at temperatures in the range of from about 350° C. to 450° C. for times ranging from 5 minutes to 10 hours at pressures below about 25 inches mercury, whereby at least 40% to 90% of the aromatic oils present in said carbonaceous residue of petroleum origin is removed therefrom and an isotropic carbonaceous pitch capable of being converted to an optically anisotropic phase is obtained.

Claim 6

A process for treating a thermal or cracked residuum of a petroleum or chemical origin capable of being thermally converted to an optically anisotropic phase comprising: heating said residuum at an elevated temperature and at a reduced pressure, whereby 40% to 90% of the aromatic oil contained in said residuum is removed, said temperature and said pressure being sufficient for removal of said aromatic oil in said pitch without thermal transformation of the balance of said residuum; containing the heating of said so treated residuum at temperatures in the range of about 350° C. to about 450° C. for about 5 minutes to about 10 hours; treating said heated pitch with an organic solvent system having a solubility parameter at 25° C. of between about 8.0 and 9.5, said treating being at a temperature and with an amount of organic solvent system sufficient to provide a solvent insoluble fraction which is thermally convertible into a deformable pitch containing greater than 75% of an optically anisotropic phase.

Claim 7

A process for treating a thermal or cracked residuum of a petroleum or chemical origin capable of being thermally converted to an optically anisotropic phase comprising: heating said residuum at an elevated temperature and at a reduced pressure, whereby 40% to 90% of the aromatic oil contained in said residuum is removed, said temperature and said pressure being sufficient for removal of said aromatic oil in said pitch without thermal transformation of the balance of said residuum; containing the heating of said so treated residuum at temperatures in the range of about 350° C. to about 450° C. for about 5 minutes to about 10 hours; treating said heated pitch with an organic solvent system having a solubility parameter at 25° C. of between about 8.0 and 9.5, said treating being at a temperature and with an amount of organic solvent system sufficient to provide a solvent insoluble fraction which is thermally convertible into a deformable pitch containing greater than 75% of an optically anisotropic phase.

Claim 8

The process of claim 4 wherein said elevated temperature and reduced pressure at which said pitch is heated to remove said aromatic oil is in the range of from about 250° C. to about 380° C. at 0.1 to 25 mm Hg pressure.

Claim 9

The process of claim 4, wherein said continued heating of said pitch is at reduced pressure.

Claim 10

The process of claim 6 wherein the pressure is in the range of 1 to 50 inches of mercury.

Claim 11

The process of claim 5 wherein said continued heating of said pitch is at atmospheric pressure and in an inert atmosphere.

Claim 12

The process of claim 8 wherein the inert atmosphere is nitrogen.