High Quality Asphalt Containing Pitch and Method of Preparing the Same

Abstract

A high quality asphalt containing pitch is generated as a by-product in a solvent deasphalting process and a method of preparing the same. The pitch is obtained by subjecting a mixture comprising a first vacuum residue and a first petroleum distillate, which is lighter than the vacuum residue and has high amounts of aromatic and resin, to solvent deasphalting. The operation conditions of the solvent deasphalting process are appropriately controlled, such that aromatic and resin components contained in the atmospheric residue and vacuum residue can be distributed to the pitch, and as well, a saturate can be removed.

1 : A high quality asphalt containing pitch, the pitch being obtained by subjecting a mixture comprising a first vacuum residue and a first petroleum distillate, which is lighter than the vacuum residue and has high amounts of aromatic and resin, to solvent deasphalting. 
     
     
         2 : The asphalt according to  claim 1 , wherein a mixing ratio of the vacuum residue to the petroleum distillate is 10-90 wt %. 
     
     
         3 : The asphalt according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second vacuum residue, a second petroleum distillate, or a mixture of the second vacuum residue and the second petroleum distillate. 
     
     
         4 : The asphalt according to  claim 1 , wherein the first petroleum distillate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an atmospheric residue, a heart cut vacuum gas oil, and a slurry oil for fluid catalytic cracking. 
     
     
         5 : The asphalt according to  claim 3 , wherein the second petroleum distillate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an atmospheric residue, a heart cut vacuum gas oil, and a slurry oil for fluid catalytic cracking. 
     
     
         6 : The asphalt according to  claim 1 , wherein the pitch has penetration substantially equal to or lower than that of the vacuum residue. 
     
     
         7 : A method of preparing high quality asphalt containing pitch, comprising conducting crude distillation and vacuum distillation to produce a vacuum residue for use in preparation of the asphalt, the method using the pitch obtained by subjecting a mixture of a first vacuum residue, produced through the vacuum distillation, and a first petroleum distillate, which is lighter than the vacuum residue and has high amounts of aromatic and resin, to solvent deasphalting. 
     
     
         8 : The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a mixing ratio of the first vacuum residue to the first petroleum distillate is 10-90 wt %. 
     
     
         9 : The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the solvent deasphalting requires a solvent selected from C3-C4 paraffin solvents and mixtures thereof, and a yield of the pitch is 10-90 vol %. 
     
     
         10 : The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the solvent deasphalting is conducted at a pitch extraction temperature of 43˜93° C. in the presence of n-propane or 115˜150° C. in the presence of n-butane/iso-butane at a pitch extraction pressure of 30-46 kg/cm 2  g, and the pitch produced through the solvent deasphalting has penetration substantially equal to or lower than that of the vacuum residue used in the solvent deasphalting. 
     
     
         11 : The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising mixing the pitch with a second vacuum residue, a second petroleum distillate, or a mixture of the second vacuum residue and the second petroleum distillate. 
     
     
         12 : The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first petroleum distillate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an atmospheric residue, a heart cut vacuum gas oil, and a slurry oil for fluid catalytic cracking. 
     
     
         13 : The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the second petroleum distillate comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an atmospheric residue, a heart cut vacuum gas oil, and a slurry oil for fluid catalytic cracking.