Use of feedstock in carbon black plasma process

Abstract

A method of making carbon black. A method of making carbon black is described including combusting feedstock with plasma in an apparatus having a series of unit operations with individual capacities. The individual capacities of the unit operations are substantially balanced by replacing at least part of the feedstock with a feedstock having a molecular weight heavier than methane. This results, among other things, in increased utilization of the individual capacities of the unit operations and increased overall throughput.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making carbon black comprising cracking feedstock with plasma in an apparatus having a series of unit operations with individual capacities, wherein the individual capacities of the unit operations are substantially balanced by replacing at least part of the feedstock with a feedstock having a molecular weight heavier than methane, resulting in increased utilization of the individual capacities of the unit operations and increased overall throughput. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the heavier feedstock is at least one gas. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the heavier feedstock contains a carbon content higher than methane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein up to 100% of the feedstock is replaced with the heavier feedstock. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the unit operations include at least one reactor unit, and/or at least one heat exchanger unit, and/or at least one filter unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the unit operations include at least one dryer unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the unit operations include at least one pelletizer unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the heavier feedstock comprises one or more of ethane, propane, butane, acetylene, ethylene, butane, carbon black oil, coal tar, crude coal tar, diesel oil, benzene, and methyl naphthalene. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the heavier feedstock contains one or more additional polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.