Process for manufacturing fine particles of pitch with a high softening

Abstract

A process for manufacturing fine particles or powder of pitch with a high softening point from a heavy oil raw material which is liquid at an ambient temperature or pitch having a relatively low softening point is disclosed. Fine particles of pitch with a high softening point are useful materials and can be used as carbon materials for various applications. A characteristic feature of the process resides in the utilization of emulsion of the heavy oil raw material. That is, it is disclosed a process for manufacturing fine particles of pitch with a high softening point comprising, a first step of stirring a raw material heavy oil in the presence of a surface-active agent and water by a stirring method which can provide a shearing force to produce an emulsion of fine spherical pitch particles dispersed in water, wherein the raw material heavy oil is a liquid having a viscosity of 1,000 poise or less at the stirring condition; a second step comprising causing the emulsion obtained in the first step to come in contact with an extracting organic solvent to extract and remove light components from the fine spherical particles in the emulsion, thereby obtaining fine particles of pitch with an increased softening point; and a third step comprising separating and recovering fine particles of pitch with an increased softening point.