Abstract

A process for thermally polymerizing a liquid hydrocarbon pitch precursor, or fractionating a crude pitch, by direct contact heating with an immiscible molten fluid, preferably molten metal, is disclosed. A crude pitch, which may contain water, contaminants and/or distillables, or a liquid hydrocarbon feed such as FCC slurry oil, is heated by direct contact heat exchange with molten fluid, preferably a molten metal bath, operating at a temperature of 100 to 6000C. The bath is maintained at a temperature and pressure sufficient to induce thermal polymerization of a pitch precursor and/or vaporize a desired amount of contaminants or volatile material from a crude pitch to produce a pitch product having a desired softening point. New pitch compositions having a high softening point are also produced.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10G 9/00 - Thermal non-catalytic cracking, in the absence of hydrogen, of hydrocarbon oils
• C10C 1/19 - Working-up tar by thermal treatment not involving distillation
• C10C 3/00 - Working-up pitch, asphalt, bitumen