Electrode binder

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of an electrode binder, which process comprises: (a) thermally cracking a non-hydrotreated thermal tar feedstock having an aromatic content of less than 65 % wt; (b) separating the thermally cracked product of step (a) in a separator, into at least a top fraction and a bottom fraction, and (c) subjecting the bottom fraction from step (b) to vacuum distillation, to yield, as a vacuum distillation residue, an electrode binder, and an anode binder obtainable by said process for use in aluminium production.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for the preparation of an electrode binder, which process comprises: 
 (a) thermally cracking a non-hydrotreated thermal tar feedstock having an aromatic content of less than 65% wt,    (b) separating the thermally cracked product of step (a) in a separator, into at least a top fraction and a bottom fraction, and    (c) subjecting the bottom fraction from step (b) to vacuum distillation, to yield, as a vacuum distillation residue, an electrode binder.    
     
     
         2 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal tar feedstock is a residue from a thermal gas oil unit.  
     
     
         3 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal tar feedstock is a residue from the thermal cracking of a waxy distillate feed.  
     
     
         4 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the separator of step (b) is a cyclone.  
     
     
         5 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal tar feedstock is thermally cracked in a visbreaking unit.  
     
     
         6 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode binder has a sulphur content of less than 2% wt.  
     
     
         7 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode binder has a PAC content of less than 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         8 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode binder has a benzo[a]pyrene content of less than 200 ppm.  
     
     
         9 . An electrode binder obtainable by a process as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . An anode binder obtainable by a process as claimed in  claim 1  for use in aluminium production.