Study on the production of carbonaceous mesophase by aromatic-rich heavy oil

The mesophase pitch was prepared from aromatics-rich heavy oil through thermal condensation and nitrogen purging processes to study the effect of reaction time on the formation and properties of mesophase pitch. A suitable reaction time allows the mesophase spheres to fully develop into the bulk mesophase and avoids the excessive condensation of the product. Early pressurised treatment makes small molecules condense to generate precursor pitch, and the residual light components and low-boiling isotropic components are effectively removed in the subsequent nitrogen purging stage, so that the precursor pitch is rapidly concentrated into mesophase spheres of the appropriate size, and mesophase pitch with an excellent optical structure is formed in a short period.