Systems and methods are provided for block operation during lubricant and/or fuels production from deasphalted oil. During block operation, a deasphalted oil and/or the hydroprocessed effluent from an initial processing stage can be split into a plurality of fractions. The fractions can correspond, for example, to feed fractions suitable for forming a light neutral fraction, a heavy neutral fraction, and a bright stock fraction, or the plurality of fractions can correspond to any other convenient split into separate fractions. The plurality of separate fractions can then be processed separately in the process train (or in the sweet portion of the process train) for forming fuels and/or lubricant base stocks. This can allow for formation of unexpected base stock compositions.

Systems and methods are provided for block operation during lubricant and/or fuels production from deasphalted oil. During block operation, a deasphalted oil and/or the hydroprocessed effluent from an initial processing stage can be split into a plurality of fractions. The fractions can correspond, for example, to feed fractions suitable for forming a light neutral fraction, a heavy neutral fraction, and a bright stock fraction, or the plurality of fractions can correspond to any other convenient split into separate fractions. The plurality of separate fractions can then be processed separately in the process train (or in the sweet portion of the process train) for forming fuels and/or lubricant base stocks. This can allow for formation of unexpected base stock compositions.

Embodiments of methods for improving mesophase pitch for carbon fiber production using supercritical carbon dioxide are described. The methods improve the relative amount and quality of mesophase pitch in feedstocks, such as coal tar, already having at least some mesophase pitch. One particular method includes performing a sCO2/toluene extraction on the coal tar to obtain a toluene insoluble fraction of the coal tar; mixing the toluene insoluble fraction with sCO2 to obtain a sCO2/toluene insoluble fraction mixture; and extruding the sCO2/toluene insoluble fraction mixture, thereby separating the sCO2 from the toluene insoluble fraction to obtain fibers of mesophase pitch.

Embodiments of methods for improving mesophase pitch for carbon fiber production using supercritical carbon dioxide are described. The methods improve the relative amount and quality of mesophase pitch in feedstocks, such as coal tar, already having at least some mesophase pitch. One particular method includes performing a sCO2/toluene extraction on the coal tar to obtain a toluene insoluble fraction of the coal tar; mixing the toluene insoluble fraction with sCO2 to obtain a sCO2/toluene insoluble fraction mixture; and extruding the sCO2/toluene insoluble fraction mixture, thereby separating the sCO2 from the toluene insoluble fraction to obtain fibers of mesophase pitch.

A method for processing bitumen froth to produce a diluted bitumen product having a reduced water and solids content is provided, comprising: adding a sufficient amount of water to the bitumen froth and mixing the bitumen froth and water to form a froth/water mixture; diluting the froth/water mixture with naphtha to form a diluted froth; and separating the water and solids from the diluted froth to produce the diluted bitumen product.

A method for processing bitumen froth to produce a diluted bitumen product having a reduced water and solids content is provided, comprising: adding a sufficient amount of water to the bitumen froth and mixing the bitumen froth and water to form a froth/water mixture; diluting the froth/water mixture with naphtha to form a diluted froth; and separating the water and solids from the diluted froth to produce the diluted bitumen product.

Method and apparatus to facilitate recycling of at least one fraction of bitumen-containing materials. This can be accomplished by dissolving the at least one fraction, for example, maltenes or asphaltenes in roofing shingles, into at least one solvent. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a dissolution vessel, a tumbler positioned therein, and at least one solvent distributor. The tumbler is configured to facilitate wetting the bitumen-containing materials with solvent. In a second aspect, a system comprises the apparatus, a solid-liquid separator, for example, a vibratory screen, and at least one solvent-fraction separator, for example, a flash drum. The at least one solvent can comprise one or more solvents useful to extract the at least one fraction. In a third aspect, a first fraction is extracted from the bitumen-containing materials with a first solvent composition, then a second fraction is extracted from the remaining bitumen-containing materials with a second solvent composition.

Method and apparatus to facilitate recycling of at least one fraction of bitumen-containing materials. This can be accomplished by dissolving the at least one fraction, for example, maltenes or asphaltenes in roofing shingles, into at least one solvent. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a dissolution vessel, a tumbler positioned therein, and at least one solvent distributor. The tumbler is configured to facilitate wetting the bitumen-containing materials with solvent. In a second aspect, a system comprises the apparatus, a solid-liquid separator, for example, a vibratory screen, and at least one solvent-fraction separator, for example, a flash drum. The at least one solvent can comprise one or more solvents useful to extract the at least one fraction. In a third aspect, a first fraction is extracted from the bitumen-containing materials with a first solvent composition, then a second fraction is extracted from the remaining bitumen-containing materials with a second solvent composition.

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.