Koppers Industries, Inc.

Koppers Industries of Delaware, Inc.

E Ronald McHenry

William E Saver

Described are methods that utilize high efficiency evaporative distillation to make a high softening point coal tar pitch, a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free coal tar pitch having a desired softening point, and a mesophase coal tar pitch. Each of the methods uses a feed coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of 70&#xb0; C. to 160&#xb0; C. The methods may be carried out using appropriate conventional distillation equipment, a wiped film evaporator, or a thin film evaporator.

Coal tar and hydrocarbon mixture pitch production using a high efficiency evaporative distillation process

A coal tar pitch/petroleum pitch blend is disclosed together with a method of making the same. In accordance with the invention, a crude coal tar material is selected according to specific properties including QI, specific gravity, water and ash content. A petroleum pitch material is also selected according to its softening point, QI, coking value and sulfur content. The coal tar pitch is distilled to a uncharacteristically high softening point which is then mixed with the petroleum pitch to a desired softening end point. The material retains significant QI and coking value characteristics of pure coal tar pitch particularly for use in Soderberg-type anodes for aluminum smelting as well as electric arc furnace electrodes. PAH emissions, and more specifically B(a)P equivalent emissions, are all reduced by approximately 40%.

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Berea, OH, United States of America

E Ronald McHenry