The Neglected Role of Asphaltene in the Synthesis of Mesophase Pitch
This study investigates the synthesis of mesophase pitch using low-cost fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) slurry and waste fluid asphaltene (WFA) as raw materials through the co-carbonization method. The resulting mesophase pitch product and its formation mechanism were thoroughly analyzed. Various cha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/7/1500 |
| _version_ | 1827286719663177728 |
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| author | Mingzhi Wang Yulin Li Haoyu Wang Junjie Tao Mingzhe Li Yuzhu Shi Xiaolong Zhou |
| author_facet | Mingzhi Wang Yulin Li Haoyu Wang Junjie Tao Mingzhe Li Yuzhu Shi Xiaolong Zhou |
| author_sort | Mingzhi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the synthesis of mesophase pitch using low-cost fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) slurry and waste fluid asphaltene (WFA) as raw materials through the co-carbonization method. The resulting mesophase pitch product and its formation mechanism were thoroughly analyzed. Various characterization techniques, including polarizing microscopy, softening point measurement, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were employed to characterize and analyze the properties and structure of the mesophase pitch. The experimental results demonstrate that the optimal optical texture of the mesophase product is achieved under specific reaction conditions, including a temperature of 420 °C, pressure of 1 MPa, reaction time of 6 h, and the addition of 2% asphaltene. It was observed that a small amount of asphaltene contributes to the formation of mesophase pitch spheres, facilitating the development of the mesophase. However, excessive content of asphaltene may cover the surface of the mesophase spheres, impeding the contact between them and consequently compromising the optical texture of the mesophase pitch product. Furthermore, the inclusion of asphaltene promotes polymerization reactions in the system, leading to an increase in the average molecular weight of the mesophase pitch. Notably, when the amount of asphaltene added is 2%, the mesophase pitch demonstrates the lowest I<sub>D</sub>/I<sub>G</sub> value, indicating superior molecular orientation and larger graphite-like microcrystals. Additionally, researchers found that at this asphaltene concentration, the mesophase pitch exhibits the highest degree of order, as evidenced by the maximum diffraction angle (2θ) and stacking height (Lc) values, and the minimum d<sub>002</sub> value. Moreover, the addition of asphaltene enhances the yield and aromaticity of the mesophase pitch and significantly improves the thermal stability of the resulting product. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:39:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-abf7765a2fef4fd6a33d1bd6a26211b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:39:22Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-abf7765a2fef4fd6a33d1bd6a26211b62024-04-12T13:23:14ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-03-01297150010.3390/molecules29071500The Neglected Role of Asphaltene in the Synthesis of Mesophase PitchMingzhi Wang0Yulin Li1Haoyu Wang2Junjie Tao3Mingzhe Li4Yuzhu Shi5Xiaolong Zhou6International Joint Research Center of Green Energy Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, ChinaInternational Joint Research Center of Green Energy Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, ChinaInternational Joint Research Center of Green Energy Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, ChinaInternational Joint Research Center of Green Energy Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, ChinaInternational Joint Research Center of Green Energy Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, ChinaInternational Joint Research Center of Green Energy Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, ChinaInternational Joint Research Center of Green Energy Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, ChinaThis study investigates the synthesis of mesophase pitch using low-cost fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) slurry and waste fluid asphaltene (WFA) as raw materials through the co-carbonization method. The resulting mesophase pitch product and its formation mechanism were thoroughly analyzed. Various characterization techniques, including polarizing microscopy, softening point measurement, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were employed to characterize and analyze the properties and structure of the mesophase pitch. The experimental results demonstrate that the optimal optical texture of the mesophase product is achieved under specific reaction conditions, including a temperature of 420 °C, pressure of 1 MPa, reaction time of 6 h, and the addition of 2% asphaltene. It was observed that a small amount of asphaltene contributes to the formation of mesophase pitch spheres, facilitating the development of the mesophase. However, excessive content of asphaltene may cover the surface of the mesophase spheres, impeding the contact between them and consequently compromising the optical texture of the mesophase pitch product. Furthermore, the inclusion of asphaltene promotes polymerization reactions in the system, leading to an increase in the average molecular weight of the mesophase pitch. Notably, when the amount of asphaltene added is 2%, the mesophase pitch demonstrates the lowest I<sub>D</sub>/I<sub>G</sub> value, indicating superior molecular orientation and larger graphite-like microcrystals. Additionally, researchers found that at this asphaltene concentration, the mesophase pitch exhibits the highest degree of order, as evidenced by the maximum diffraction angle (2θ) and stacking height (Lc) values, and the minimum d<sub>002</sub> value. Moreover, the addition of asphaltene enhances the yield and aromaticity of the mesophase pitch and significantly improves the thermal stability of the resulting product.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/7/1500mesophase pitchFCC slurrymolecular orientationstabilitytemperaturepressure |
| spellingShingle | Mingzhi Wang Yulin Li Haoyu Wang Junjie Tao Mingzhe Li Yuzhu Shi Xiaolong Zhou The Neglected Role of Asphaltene in the Synthesis of Mesophase Pitch Molecules mesophase pitch FCC slurry molecular orientation stability temperature pressure |
| title | The Neglected Role of Asphaltene in the Synthesis of Mesophase Pitch |
| title_full | The Neglected Role of Asphaltene in the Synthesis of Mesophase Pitch |
| title_fullStr | The Neglected Role of Asphaltene in the Synthesis of Mesophase Pitch |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Neglected Role of Asphaltene in the Synthesis of Mesophase Pitch |
| title_short | The Neglected Role of Asphaltene in the Synthesis of Mesophase Pitch |
| title_sort | neglected role of asphaltene in the synthesis of mesophase pitch |
| topic | mesophase pitch FCC slurry molecular orientation stability temperature pressure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/7/1500 |
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