A method of crude oil fractionation without using a vacuum distillation unit can include: introducing a crude oil feed having been preheated to an atmospheric distillation tower; introducing steam according to one of: (a) into the atmospheric heater at a weight ratio of 0.1:1 to 5:1 of the steam to the crude oil feed, (b) into the atmospheric distillation tower at a weight ratio of 0.1:1 to 5:1 of the steam to the crude oil feed, or (c) both (a) and (b); and distilling the crude oil feed in the atmospheric distillation tower into a plurality of cuts including an atmospheric bottoms cut having a boiling point of 800+ F. to 950+ F.

A method of crude oil fractionation without using a vacuum distillation unit can include: introducing a crude oil feed having been preheated to an atmospheric distillation tower; introducing steam according to one of: (a) into the atmospheric heater at a weight ratio of 0.1:1 to 5:1 of the steam to the crude oil feed, (b) into the atmospheric distillation tower at a weight ratio of 0.1:1 to 5:1 of the steam to the crude oil feed, or (c) both (a) and (b); and distilling the crude oil feed in the atmospheric distillation tower into a plurality of cuts including an atmospheric bottoms cut having a boiling point of 800+ F. to 950+ F.

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.

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.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an impregnated pitch from a petroleum-based raw material and to an impregnated pitch produced using the same, and when the method for producing an impregnated pitch according to the present invention is used, it is possible to produce an impregnated pitch having a high carbonization yield (40 wt % or more) and low quinoline insoluble matter (QI, 2% or less) for improving efficiency of an impregnation process from a petroleum-based raw material. Therefore, when an impregnation process is applied to a carbon compact by using the impregnated pitch according to the present invention, it is possible to remarkably reduce micropores inside the carbon compact, and to produce a carbon compact having physical properties such as excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an impregnated pitch from a petroleum-based raw material and to an impregnated pitch produced using the same, and when the method for producing an impregnated pitch according to the present invention is used, it is possible to produce an impregnated pitch having a high carbonization yield (40 wt % or more) and low quinoline insoluble matter (QI, 2% or less) for improving efficiency of an impregnation process from a petroleum-based raw material. Therefore, when an impregnation process is applied to a carbon compact by using the impregnated pitch according to the present invention, it is possible to remarkably reduce micropores inside the carbon compact, and to produce a carbon compact having physical properties such as excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength.

Disclosed is method that involves subjecting a base material to an extraction process to extract hydrocarbon fractions having molecular weights within a desired range from the base material to generate a resultant extraction material comprising mostly if not entirely of hydrocarbon fractions having molecular weights within the desired range. In some embodiments, the extraction process can involve performing the extraction in iterations.

Disclosed is method that involves subjecting a base material to an extraction process to extract hydrocarbon fractions having molecular weights within a desired range from the base material to generate a resultant extraction material comprising mostly if not entirely of hydrocarbon fractions having molecular weights within the desired range. In some embodiments, the extraction process can involve performing the extraction in iterations.

A method for producing pitch can include: hydroprocessing a challenged feed from a refinery operation to produce a hydroprocessed product; distilling the hydroprocessed product to yield one or more upgraded fractions and a resid fraction; and solvent deasphalting the resid fraction to yield a deasphalted oil stream and a hydroprocessed pitch stream. The resultant pitch can have a micro carbon residue (MCR) of 50 wt % or greater, a solubility in toluene of 95 wt % or greater, and a softening point of 200 C. or less. The pitch can optionally be fluxed with a fluxing solvent.

A method for producing pitch can include: hydroprocessing a challenged feed from a refinery operation to produce a hydroprocessed product; distilling the hydroprocessed product to yield one or more upgraded fractions and a resid fraction; and solvent deasphalting the resid fraction to yield a deasphalted oil stream and a hydroprocessed pitch stream. The resultant pitch can have a micro carbon residue (MCR) of 50 wt % or greater, a solubility in toluene of 95 wt % or greater, and a softening point of 200 C. or less. The pitch can optionally be fluxed with a fluxing solvent.