Production of pitch from anthracene oil of coal tar induced by sulfur

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the conversion of anthracene oil into pitch through the polymerization reactions of anthracene oil in coal tar induced by sulfur agent. The softening point, penetration, ductility, content of volatile matter, fractional and elemental compositions of the acquired pitches were determined. And their properties were characterized by thermal analysis, infra-red spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and optical microscopy analysis. The softening point increases signally while the penetration decreases greatly when the sulfur content in coal tar increases. The thermogravimetric analysis was capable of as a measure of the anthracene oil polymerization conversion extent. Optical analysis of these pitch samples shows that the synthetic pitch has the isotropic properties with potential industrial applications as carbon precursors.

KEYWORDS:

• Anthracene oil
• synthetic pitch
• polymerization
• sulfur agent
• coal tar

Acknowledgments

The authors also appreciate Professor Jianxiao Yang from Hunan University for his assistance in optical microscopy analysis and discussion.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 21766013; Analysis and Measurement Foundation of Kunming University of Science and Technology under Grant No. 2016T20070105; and College Students^, innovation and entrepreneurship training plan under Grant No. 201710674111.

Notes on contributors

Guangbing Liang

Guangbing Liang received his B.S. Degree in applied chemistry from Northeast Petroleum University in 2018. He is currently pursuing his M.E. in Chemical Engineering at Kunming University of Science and Technology under the supervision of Dr. Yanhong Li. His research has focused on coal tar and solid waste management.

Yanhong Li

Yanhong Li received his B.E. from the Xinyang Normal University in 2004 and M.E. from the Key Laboratory of Coal Science and Technology of Ministry of Education and Shanxi Province at the Taiyuan University of Technology in 2007.Yanhong Li is a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering in the Key Laboratory of Coal Science and Technology of Ministry of Education and Shanxi Province at the Taiyuan University of Technology.Yanhong Li is a lecturer in the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology. His research has focused on energy and chemical engineering, such as biomass, coal and petroleum.

Changyu Zi

Changyu Zi received her B.E. Degree in energy chemical engineering from Northeast PetroleumUniversity in 2017. She is currently pursuing her M.E. in Chemical Engineeringat KunmingUniversity of Science and Technology under the supervision of Dr. Yanhong Li. Her research has focused on coal chemical industry.

Yuanqin Zhang

Yuanqin Zhang received her B.E. Degree in Chemical Engineering and Technology from Tianjin University Renai college in 2018. She is currently pursuing her M.E. in Chemical Engineering at Kunming University of Science and Technology under the supervision of Dr. Yanhong Li. Her research has focused on coal chemical industry.

Quan Zhang

Quan Zhang received his B.E. in Chemical Engineeringat KunmingUniversity of Science and Technology under the supervision of Dr. Yanhong Li. His research has focused on coal tar. He is currently pursuing a master's degree of chemical engineering at College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in Xiamen University.

Wenbo Zhao

Wenbo Zhao is a professor in the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology. He received his Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Coal Chemistry of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2009. His research interests include absorption and utilization of energy gas such as CO₂, SO₂ and CH₄, preparation and application of porous material, green catalysis and synthesis, etc.