Processes for making mesophase pitch

1 . A process for making a mesophase pitch, the process comprising:

passing an aromatics-rich feed into a reactor, wherein:

the total amount of molecular oxygen and peroxides in the reactor is less than 1 mol. %;

the aromatics-rich feed comprises at least 80 wt. % aromatics selected from the group consisting of naphthalenes, acenaphthenes, acenaphthylenes, fluorenes, phenanthres, anthracenes, pyrenes, tetra-aromatics, penta-aromatics, or combinations thereof;

the aromatics-rich feed comprises less than 3 wt. % of a combination of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen; and

subjecting the aromatics-rich feed to a temperature of greater than or equal to 350° C. and a pressure of from 20 bar to 40 bar for a duration of from 4 hours to 10 hours in the reactor to produce the mesophase pitch.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed is subjected to a temperature of greater than or equal to 400° C.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed is subjected to a temperature of greater than or equal to 450° C.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed comprises a cycle oil from a fluid catalytic cracking system.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the mesophase pitch is made in a batch process.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the duration is from 5 to 7 hours.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein:

the aromatics-rich feed comprises less than 5 wt. % resins; and

the mesophase pitch comprises at least 10 wt. % resins.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein subjecting the aromatics-rich feed to the temperature of greater than or equal to 350° C. polymerizes the aromatics-rich feed in the reactor.

9 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising purging the reactor with an inert gas prior to passing the aromatics-rich feed to the reactor.

10 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising stirring the aromatics-rich feed in the reactor.

11 . The process of claim 10 , wherein stirring is continuous throughout the duration of the process.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed comprises:

from 1 wt. % to 10 wt. % saturates;

from 0.01 wt. % to 5 wt. % resins; and

from 0 wt. % to 1 wt. % asphaltenes.

13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed comprises from 85 wt. % to 95 wt. % carbon and from 5 wt. % to 15 wt. % hydrogen.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed comprises less than 1 wt. % of a combination of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen.

15 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed has a hydrogen-to-carbon ratio of greater than 1.

16 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed comprises:

from 4 wt. % to 8 wt. % saturates;

from 90 wt. % to 95 wt. % aromatics;

from 0.01 wt. % to 3 wt. % resins; and

from 0 wt. % to 0.1 wt. % asphaltenes.

17 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the mesophase pitch comprises:

from 0 wt. % to 1 wt. % saturates;

from 65 wt. % to 75 wt. % aromatics;

from 10 wt. % to 20 wt. % resins; and

from 10 wt. % to 20 wt. % asphaltenes.

18 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the mesophase pitch has a softening point of from 150° C. to 350° C.

19 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature is greater than or equal to 400° C. and the duration is from 5 hours to 7 hours.

20 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature is greater than or equal to 450° C. and the duration is from 5 hours to 7 hours.

21 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aromatics-rich feed comprises from 0 wt. % to 1 wt. % asphaltenes.