Proppant particulates are commonly used in hydraulic fracturing operations to maintain one or more fractures in an opened state following the release of hydraulic pressure. In complex fracture networks, it can be difficult to deposit proppant particulates fully within the fractures. In addition, low crush strengths may result in problematic fines formation. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons, commonly encountered in various refinery process streams, may serve as an advantageous precursor to proppant particulates. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons may undergo crosslinking under acid-catalyzed conditions in an aqueous solvent in the presence of a surfactant to form substantially spherical particulates that may serve as effective proppant particulates during fracturing operations. In situ formation of the proppant particulates may take place in some cases.

Provided are a method for manufacturing a high yield and high performance mesophase pitch and a high yield and high performance mesophase pitch manufactured therefrom by hydrogenating, mesophase formation, thin film evaporation, solvent-extracting, filtering and then drying to obtain only mesogen components in flow-domained mesophase pitch and then mixing the mesogen components with an isotropic pitch as a solvent component. Further, the high yield mesophase pitch of the present disclosure exhibits high spinnability while maintaining whole anisotropy and exhibits a much higher production yield than existing mesophase pitches.

The present disclosure generally relates to dispersions useful for scavenging hydrogen sulfide. The dispersions may be anhydrous and contain a solvent and a hydrogen sulfide scavenging compound. The hydrogen sulfide scavenging compound may be hexamine, for example. The solvent may be a C.sub.2-8 polyol, such as glycerin.

Proppant particulates are commonly used in hydraulic fracturing operations to maintain one or more fractures in an opened state following the release of hydraulic pressure. In complex fracture networks, it can be difficult to deposit proppant particulates fully within the fractures. In addition, low crush strengths may result in problematic fines formation. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons, commonly encountered in various refinery process streams, may serve as an advantageous precursor to proppant particulates. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons may undergo crosslinking under acid-catalyzed conditions in an aqueous solvent in the presence of a surfactant to form substantially spherical particulates that may serve as effective proppant particulates during fracturing operations. In situ formation of the proppant particulates may take place in some cases.

A process and apparatus for the continuous conversion of isotropic carbonaceous materials into anisotropic mesophase pitch is disclosed. The invention disclosed herein addresses the need for lower production costs compared with traditional batch mesophase conversion of isotropic pitch. A unique thermal processing and in-process separation of reacted mesophase from the continuous matrix of fresh or partially reacted isotropic pitch is provided. Potential uses are for further continuous processing into carbon fibers or carbon form densification.

A process and apparatus for the continuous conversion of isotropic carbonaceous materials into anisotropic mesophase pitch is disclosed. The invention disclosed herein addresses the need for lower production costs compared with traditional batch mesophase conversion of isotropic pitch. A unique thermal processing and in-process separation of reacted mesophase from the continuous matrix of fresh or partially reacted isotropic pitch is provided. Potential uses are for further continuous processing into carbon fibers or carbon form densification.

A method of reducing hydrogen sulfide emissions from an asphalt or bitumen composition comprises releasing a solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger from an additive package, which comprises the solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger disposed in a sealed pouch; and contacting the asphalt or bitumen composition with the released solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger. The sealed pouch is formed from a pouch material, which includes an polyethylene, a polypropylene, an ethylene propylene copolymer, a polystyrene, a polylactic acid, a polyamide, a polyester, a polystyrene, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, an ethylene vinylpyrrolidone copolymer, a vinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyvinyl acetate, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyethylene oxide, a polyethylene glycol, polyvinylidene chloride, a polysaccharide or its derivative, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

A method of reducing hydrogen sulfide emissions from an asphalt or bitumen composition comprises releasing a solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger from an additive package, which comprises the solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger disposed in a sealed pouch; and contacting the asphalt or bitumen composition with the released solid hydrogen sulfide scavenger. The sealed pouch is formed from a pouch material, which includes an polyethylene, a polypropylene, an ethylene propylene copolymer, a polystyrene, a polylactic acid, a polyamide, a polyester, a polystyrene, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, an ethylene vinylpyrrolidone copolymer, a vinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyvinyl acetate, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyethylene oxide, a polyethylene glycol, polyvinylidene chloride, a polysaccharide or its derivative, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Producing mesophase pitch from liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising multi-ring aromatic compounds. In a first stage reactor feed is converted to isotropic pitch product contaminated with mesophase pitch. Contaminated isotropic pitch is charged to a second stage reactor where mesophase formation by self-assembly into spherical crystal clusters produces a mesophase pitch product. Water or steam added to the first stage reactor increases conversion of aromatic liquid feed, increases mesophase contamination of isotropic pitch product and reduces coke formation in the isotropic pitch reactor.

Producing mesophase pitch from liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising multi-ring aromatic compounds. In a first stage reactor feed is converted to isotropic pitch product contaminated with mesophase pitch. Contaminated isotropic pitch is charged to a second stage reactor where mesophase formation by self-assembly into spherical crystal clusters produces a mesophase pitch product. Water or steam added to the first stage reactor increases conversion of aromatic liquid feed, increases mesophase contamination of isotropic pitch product and reduces coke formation in the isotropic pitch reactor.