A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (EMF) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

A method for repairing an aged asphalt pavement is provided. The method involves passing an emitter over the aged asphalt pavement, wherein the emitter generates electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 20 microns to 1 mm that penetrates into the pavement to a depth of at least 2 inches. The asphalt pavement is repaired by disturbing voids and interstices in the damaged pavement without dehydrogenation of the asphalt, such that oligomers present in the aged asphalt are linked together into longer polymer chains to improve ductility of the aged asphalt.

Pitch compositions having controlled pitch composition properties and methods for their production and use. Pitch properties are predicted based on infrared structural parameters and two or more pitch compositions may be blended to achieve desired pitch properties, including softening point, microcarbon residue, hydrogen to carbon ratio, and percent pitch volatiles. Predicting these properties can aid in, among other things, end-use optimization of the production of spinnable pitches for carbon fibers, mesocarbon microbeads, matrixes for carbon/carbon composites, and other pitch-derived carbon products.

A method of fabricating carbon fibers includes the steps of: (a) melting asphaltene solids in a sealed vessel; (b) spinning melted asphaltenes to fabricate green fibers; (c) stabilizing the green fibers; (d) carbonizing the stabilized green fibers; and (e) optionally graphitizing carbonized fibers.

The present invention provides a system for producing mesophase coke from an isotropic pitch. The system includes a reactor having a first heating zone to carry out pretreating of the isotropic pitch by operating at a temperature of 250 C.-350 C. under atmospheric pressure. The reactor further includes a second heating zone to carry out heating of the pretreated isotropic pitch by maintaining the temperature of 350 C.-500 C. under the atmospheric pressure to obtain mesophase pitch. The reactor includes a third heating zone to carry out heating of the said mesophase pitch by maintaining the temperature of 500 C.-800 C. under the atmospheric pressure to obtain mesophase coke. The system further includes a pusher unit adapted to physically move the container from the entry zone to the exit zone to obtain the mesophase coke.

A pitch composition suitable for spinning may comprise: a pitch having a softening point temperature (T.sub.sp) of 400 C. or less, and an oxidation onset temperature (OOT) at least 10 C. below the T.sub.sp at a ramp rate of 10 C./min. A carbon fiber may comprise: a carbon fiber produced from a pitch composition, wherein the pitch composition comprises: a pitch having a softening point temperature (T.sub.sp) of 400 C. or less, and an oxidation onset temperature (OOT) at least 10 C. below the T.sub.sp at a ramp rate of 10 C./min.

Processes are described for producing mesophase pitch. The processes generally comprise providing a feedstock having a T5400 F. (204 C.) and a T951,400 F. (760 C.) and heating the feedstock at a temperature ranging from about 420 C. to about 520 C. to produce a heat treated product including isotropic pitch. Generally, the heating is conducted under conditions sufficient to satisfy the relationship [X*Y]20,000 seconds, wherein X is the equivalent reaction time of the heating, and wherein Y is the bromine number of the feedstock as measured in accordance with ASTM D1159. The processes generally further comprise contacting the isotropic pitch with a solvent having a Solubility Blending number (S.sub.BN) of at least about 10 SU under conditions sufficient to produce a solvent fraction comprising the solvent and an insoluble fraction comprising mesophase pitch, and recovering the mesophase pitch.

A method of preparing graphene from coal can include thermally processing raw coal and, after the coal has been at least partially cooled from thermal processing, forming reduced graphene oxide from the coal.

A process for making a mesophase pitch may include passing an aromatics-rich feed into a reactor and subjecting the aromatics-rich feed to a temperature of greater than or equal to 350 C. and a pressure of from 20 bar to 40 bar for a duration of from 4 hours to 10 hours in the reactor to produce the mesophase pitch. The total amount of molecular oxygen and peroxides in the reactor may be less than 1 mol. %. The aromatics-rich feed may include at least 80 wt. % aromatics and the aromatics-rich feed may include less than 3 wt. % of a combination of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen.

Disclosed are methods for preparing a high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition for transportation in a railcar, wherein the method may include: (a) providing to a fractionator system a low-viscosity bitumen composition previously residing in a pipeline having a first viscosity and comprising a miscible blend of hydrocarbons, which blend was prepared by mixing a first diluent composition with a first bitumen composition; (b) heating the low-viscosity bitumen composition in the fractionator system at an operating temperature of from 170 C to 232 C to provide a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction; (c) removing at least a portion of the first heavy fraction from the fractionator system, wherein the first heavy fraction has a second viscosity that is higher than the first viscosity; (d) forming a high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition from at least a portion of the first heavy fraction; and (e) directing the high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition to a railcar.