Methods for preparing, converting, and/or transporting bitumen are provided. Asphaltene prills, prilling processes, and converted bitumen suitable for transport are disclosed. One method for preparing bitumen for transport comprises: separating asphaltene from the bitumen to generate a deasphalted oil and asphaltene; separating the asphaltene into a first asphaltene fraction and a second asphaltene fraction, the first asphaltene fraction being less soluble in deasphalted oil and the second asphaltene fraction being more soluble in deasphalted oil; and forming an asphaltene prill comprising an inner core comprising the second asphaltene fraction and an outer layer comprising the first asphaltene fraction. Asphaltene prills disclosed herein may comprise an inner core comprising an asphaltene fraction having more solubility in deasphalted oil, and an outer layer comprising an asphaltene fraction having less solubility in deasphalted oil. Methods for the transport of bitumen via a pipeline are disclosed.

Granules of material usable as a road binder or as a sealing binder including a core and a coating layer, wherein: the core consists of a first composition including at least one material selected from: a bitumen base, a pitch, a clear binder, and the coating layer consists of a second composition which includes: at least one viscosifying compound selected from cellulose ethers, and at least one anticaking agent. Also, a method for producing granules of material that can be used as a road binder or as a sealing binder, and the use thereof as a road binder, in particular for the production of coated materials. Also, a method for producing coatings from granules of material that can be used as a road binder or as a sealing binder and to a method for transporting and/or storing and/or handling granules.

This alternative fuel is a reclaimed waste product which has a solid, particulate consistency at ambient temperature. The fuel comprises a composite of petroleum pitch and a powder coating. The powder coating penetrates into the surface of the pitch. The powder coating is recycled ash, pulverized coal, or pulverized petroleum coke.

This alternative fuel is a reclaimed waste product which has a solid, particulate consistency at ambient temperature. The fuel comprises a composite of petroleum pitch and a powder coating. The powder coating penetrates into the surface of the pitch. The powder coating is recycled ash, pulverized coal, or pulverized petroleum coke.

Granules of material usable as a road binder or sealing binder, including a core and a coating layer, where: the core is made of a first composition including at least one material chosen from: a bitumen base, pitch, and clear binder, and the coating layer is made of a second composition including: at least one viscosifying compound, at least one first anticaking agent selected from alkali and alkaline-earth metal silicates, and at least one second anti-caking agent distinct from the silicates. Also, a method for producing granules of material that can be used as a road binder or sealing binder, and the use thereof as a road binder, in particular for the production of coated materials. Also, a method for producing coated materials from granules of material that can be used as a road binder or as a sealing binder and a method for transporting and/or storing and/or handling granules.

A method of transporting non-volatile bituminous materials from a first location to a second location involves carrying a plurality of irregular bricks formed by the bituminous material in transport chambers carried by vehicles. Bricks are defined by a plurality of non-planar surface, which create gaps between adjacent bricks, and can further include polymer skeletons and other features that help them float. The bricks can travel by land, sea, air, or rail and need not be heated while in transit. Transport chambers have active or preferably passive environmental control systems to circulate cooling air, water, or other substances through the transport chamber and the gaps between adjacent bricks. In a preferred embodiment, ambient air circulates among the bricks during travel by land and ambient water circulates among the bricks during marine travel. The vehicles carrying the transport chambers can be low-emissions or zero-emission vehicles including fuel-cell powered trains and ships.

A method of transporting non-volatile bituminous materials from a first location to a second location involves carrying a plurality of irregular bricks formed by the bituminous material in transport chambers carried by vehicles. Bricks are defined by a plurality of non-planar surface, which create gaps between adjacent bricks, and can further include polymer skeletons and other features that help them float. The bricks can travel by land, sea, air, or rail and need not be heated while in transit. Transport chambers have active or preferably passive environmental control systems to circulate cooling air, water, or other substances through the transport chamber and the gaps between adjacent bricks. In a preferred embodiment, ambient air circulates among the bricks during travel by land and ambient water circulates among the bricks during marine travel. The vehicles carrying the transport chambers can be low-emissions or zero-emission vehicles including fuel-cell powered trains and ships.

Bitumen which is solid at ambient temperature, in the form of granules including a core made of a first bituminous material and a coating layer made of a second bituminous material, in which: the first bituminous material includes at least one bitumen base and the second bituminous material includes: at least one bitumen base and at least one chemical additive chosen from: an organic compound, a viscosifying compound, a paraffin, a polyphosphoric acid and mixtures thereof; or at least one pitch having a ring-and-ball softening point (RBSP) greater than or equal to 80 C., it being understood that the RBSP is measured according to the EN 1427 standard; or a mixture of these materials.

A method for producing a non-coalescing asphalt from raw natural asphalt herein referred to as TLA Cold Milled. Raw TLA is crushed into smaller particles and milled at ambient temperature. The milled TLA is passed through a first sieve to maintain the separation of the particles and to produce a damp milled TLA in a powdered state. The damp milled powdered TLA is dried by exposing it to heat and is thereafter cooled to ambient temperature. The dried and cooled powdered TLA is passed through the first sieve or another sieve to produce the TLA Cold Milled which may be packaged at ambient temperature in conventional bags. The milling of the asphalt results in each particle of inorganic matter within the asphalt being surrounded by bitumen and a thin film of inorganic material, producing asphalt in a non-coalescing form, i.e., the TLA Cold Milled.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to processes for preparation of a carbon foam material, the process comprising devolatization of coal-derived pitches or extracts at atmospheric pressure near green coke temperatures, thereby forming a solid coke-like material. In a further aspect, the process can further comprise grinding the solid coke-like material to a powder, providing the ground powder to a mold, and then reheating above green coking temperature (e.g., >600 C.) to further devolatize the material and form a porous solid foam material. The process further provides carbon materials such as carbon composite materials and sp2-hybridized carbon in the form of graphene oxide or graphene. In various aspects, the disclosure relates to the carbon foam and other materials prepared using the disclosed processes. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.