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.

Pitch granules including a core made up of a first composition including at least one pitch, the composition having a penetrability at 25? C. of 0 to 45 1/10 mm, a ring-and-ball softening temperature (TBA) of 55? C. to 175? C., understanding the penetrability as measured according to standard EN 1426 and the TBA as measured according to standard EN 1427, and a layer encapsulating at least one portion of the surface of the core, the layer being made up of a coating composition including at least one anti-caking agent.

Pitch granules including a core made up of a first composition including at least one pitch, the composition having a penetrability at 25? C. of 0 to 45 1/10 mm, a ring-and-ball softening temperature (TBA) of 55? C. to 175? C., understanding the penetrability as measured according to standard EN 1426 and the TBA as measured according to standard EN 1427, and a layer encapsulating at least one portion of the surface of the core, the layer being made up of a coating composition including at least one anti-caking agent.

A method for manufacturing a material in divided form solid at ambient temperature and usable as a road binder or as a sealing binder, such as a road bitumen, a pitch, a stock solution for a bitumen/polymer composition, a clear binder, the method including the implementation of a device intended for granulation having at least two coaxial drums and a horizontal running belt: a fixed inner drum having an orifice and rotating outer drum with orifices, the method including: (i) heating a first composition to a temperature at which it is fluid, (ii) introducing the first composition in the fluid state into the inner drum of the granulation device, (iii) distributing the first composition outwards in drops through the orifices in the rotating outer drum, (iv) depositing the drops on the running belt, and (v) optionally, coating the drops with the second composition. A device for manufacturing these materials.

A method for manufacturing a material in divided form solid at ambient temperature and usable as a road binder or as a sealing binder, such as a road bitumen, a pitch, a stock solution for a bitumen/polymer composition, a clear binder, the method including the implementation of a device intended for granulation having at least two coaxial drums and a horizontal running belt: a fixed inner drum having an orifice and rotating outer drum with orifices, the method including: (i) heating a first composition to a temperature at which it is fluid, (ii) introducing the first composition in the fluid state into the inner drum of the granulation device, (iii) distributing the first composition outwards in drops through the orifices in the rotating outer drum, (iv) depositing the drops on the running belt, and (v) optionally, coating the drops with the second composition. A device for manufacturing these materials.

The invention relates to a process for treating a hydrocarbon-based feedstock, comprising a) a step of extracting the feedstock, b) a step of separating the fraction comprising de-asphalted oil, c) an optional step of injecting a withdrawal flux into the fraction comprising asphalt, d) an optional step of separating the fraction comprising asphalt and solvent or solvent mixture obtained from the extraction step a), e) an optional step of injecting a withdrawal flux into the asphalt fraction alone or as a mixture with a withdrawal flux obtained from step d) and an integrated step of conditioning the asphalt fraction obtained from steps a) and/or c) and/or d) and/or e), in solid form, performed in successive or simultaneous substeps.

A receiver for irregularly shaped bricks cast from non-volatile bituminous material includes a receiver with a specialized storage chamber that can receive viscous bituminous material and a concave lid preferably modified with a radiant heating system that can accept and melt or soften arriving bricks. The lid includes multiple openings or other delivery routes that funnel the melted bituminous material to the chamber below. The radiant heating system can be electrical where cables or grids are embedded in the lid or where conductive materials coat or are distributed throughout the lid. Alternatively, the radiant heating system can be hydronic where channels or conduits are embedded in the lid to circulate heated liquid such as water or water mixed with propylene glycol. The receiver can also include blenders, skimmers, and additional heaters to further skim, blend, or process the bituminous material collected in the chamber.

A receiver for irregularly shaped bricks cast from non-volatile bituminous material includes a receiver with a specialized storage chamber that can receive viscous bituminous material and a concave lid preferably modified with a radiant heating system that can accept and melt or soften arriving bricks. The lid includes multiple openings or other delivery routes that funnel the melted bituminous material to the chamber below. The radiant heating system can be electrical where cables or grids are embedded in the lid or where conductive materials coat or are distributed throughout the lid. Alternatively, the radiant heating system can be hydronic where channels or conduits are embedded in the lid to circulate heated liquid such as water or water mixed with propylene glycol. The receiver can also include blenders, skimmers, and additional heaters to further skim, blend, or process the bituminous material collected in the chamber.

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.

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.