The present invention provides pitch for manufacturing carbon materials, the pitch having a high fixed carbon content and low viscosity and being obtained by using a petroleum-based heavy oil as a material. Pitch is produced by a method comprising: a step for preparing a material oil containing a petroleum-based heavy oil and an indene compound represented by general formula (1) (step 1); a step for thermally treating the material oil (step 2); and a step for distilling the thermally treated product and obtaining pitch as a high-boiling-point component (step 3). (In general formula (1), Ar represents an aromatic ring having 1 to 3 rings; R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms; R.sub.5 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms; m represents an integer from 1 to 3; n represents an integer from 0 to 4 (when the number of rings of Ar is 1), an integer from 0 to 6 (when the number of rings of Ar is 2), or an integer from 0 to 8 (when the number of rings of Ar is 3); adjacent R.sub.5s may be bonded together to form an alicyclic ring; and a hydrogen atom is bonded to Ar which is not substituted by R.sub.5.)

The present invention provides pitch for manufacturing carbon materials, the pitch having a high fixed carbon content and low viscosity and being obtained by using a petroleum-based heavy oil as a material. Pitch is produced by a method comprising: a step for preparing a material oil containing a petroleum-based heavy oil and an indene compound represented by general formula (1) (step 1); a step for thermally treating the material oil (step 2); and a step for distilling the thermally treated product and obtaining pitch as a high-boiling-point component (step 3). (In general formula (1), Ar represents an aromatic ring having 1 to 3 rings; R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms; R.sub.5 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms; m represents an integer from 1 to 3; n represents an integer from 0 to 4 (when the number of rings of Ar is 1), an integer from 0 to 6 (when the number of rings of Ar is 2), or an integer from 0 to 8 (when the number of rings of Ar is 3); adjacent R.sub.5s may be bonded together to form an alicyclic ring; and a hydrogen atom is bonded to Ar which is not substituted by R.sub.5.)

A process and process line is provided for the removal of a hydrocarbon diluent such as naphtha from hydrocarbon diluent diluted bitumen (“dilbit”) to produce a high viscosity non-hazardous bitumen product for transport, for example, in a railcar, tanker ship or barge. In particular, dilbit is fed into a fractionator having a plurality of steam stripping trays and is evenly distributed along the surface of the trays to increase the surface contact between the steam and dilbit. Steam is introduced below the trays such that the steam flows upward and counter-currently contacts the dilbit distributed on the trays to strip the diluent therefrom and produce the high viscosity non-hazardous bitumen product suitable for transport, for example, in railcars.

A process for producing isotropic and mesophase pitch with reduced solids contamination from aromatic liquids contaminated with solids, such as catalyst fines or semi-coke. Contaminated feed is charged through one or more pitch forming reactors which discharge a pitch rich liquid and a vapor phase with reduced solids contamination. The vapor phase is cooled, condensed and may be charged continuously to another pitch forming reactor in parallel or used intermittently as a total or partial replacement for solids contaminated feed.

A process for producing isotropic and mesophase pitch with reduced solids contamination from aromatic liquids contaminated with solids, such as catalyst fines or semi-coke. Contaminated feed is charged through one or more pitch forming reactors which discharge a pitch rich liquid and a vapor phase with reduced solids contamination. The vapor phase is cooled, condensed and may be charged continuously to another pitch forming reactor in parallel or used intermittently as a total or partial replacement for solids contaminated feed.

Provided is impregnated pitch having a high fixed carbon content despite being petroleum-based pitch. The method for producing impregnated pitch for graphite electrode production according to one embodiment includes heat treatment of ethylene bottom oil and distillation of the heat-treated product to remove low-boiling-point compounds.

Provided is impregnated pitch having a high fixed carbon content despite being petroleum-based pitch. The method for producing impregnated pitch for graphite electrode production according to one embodiment includes heat treatment of ethylene bottom oil and distillation of the heat-treated product to remove low-boiling-point compounds.

A system and method for separating a hydrocarbon feed stream by flashing the feed stream under vacuum to form a remaining flashed vapor comprising atmospheric hydrocarbons, vacuum distillable hydrocarbons and a non-volatile liquid; condensing the flashed vapor to a liquid using a two-stage condenser and heat recovery system; and recycling a portion of the condensed liquid to be flashed under vacuum. Separation is accomplished by combining atmospheric and vacuum separation in one column. The non-volatile liquid recovered from the vacuum vessel may comprise asphalt. This process also injects steam generated within the process into the vacuum vessel which is condensed in a two-stage condenser system to augment vacuum and aid in separation. The feed stream may comprise diluted bitumen which may be removed using a feed preparation vessel.

A system and method for separating a hydrocarbon feed stream by flashing the feed stream under vacuum to form a remaining flashed vapor comprising atmospheric hydrocarbons, vacuum distillable hydrocarbons and a non-volatile liquid; condensing the flashed vapor to a liquid using a two-stage condenser and heat recovery system; and recycling a portion of the condensed liquid to be flashed under vacuum. Separation is accomplished by combining atmospheric and vacuum separation in one column. The non-volatile liquid recovered from the vacuum vessel may comprise asphalt. This process also injects steam generated within the process into the vacuum vessel which is condensed in a two-stage condenser system to augment vacuum and aid in separation. The feed stream may comprise diluted bitumen which may be removed using a feed preparation vessel.

Between 40% and 75% by weight of a first bitumen base B1 an asphalt obtained by a solvent deasphalting of a first vacuum residue R1 resulting from the distillation of an effluent hydroconverted by a process for the ebullated bed hydroconversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, and Between 25% and 60% by weight of a second bitumen base B2 and/or of a flux F, F at least one heavy aromatic cut with a hydrogen content of greater than 8.5% by weight, B2, R1 or a second vacuum residue R2 resulting from a distillation of a crude oil or a mixture of R1 and R2.