Processes for producing mesophase pitch

Abstract

Processes are described for producing mesophase pitch. The processes generally comprise providing a feedstock having a T5≥400° F. (204° C.) and a T95≤1,400° F. (760° C.) and heating the feedstock at a temperature ranging from about 420° C. to about 520° C. to produce a heat treated product including isotropic pitch. Generally, the heating is conducted under conditions sufficient to satisfy the relationship [X*Y]≥20,000 seconds, wherein X is the equivalent reaction time of the heating, and wherein Y is the bromine number of the feedstock as measured in accordance with ASTM D1159. The processes generally further comprise contacting the isotropic pitch with a solvent having a Solubility Blending number (S) of at least about 10 SU under conditions sufficient to produce a solvent fraction comprising the solvent and an insoluble fraction comprising mesophase pitch, and recovering the mesophase pitch.