Pitch emulsions

1. A pitch emulsion comprising particles of a pitch dispersed in water in the presence of an emulsifying agent comprising a fatty acid, a chemically modified fatty acid, a rosin acid, a chemically modified rosin acid, or combinations thereof, wherein the pitch contains from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % unsaponifiables, based on the total weight of the pitch, and wherein the pitch emulsion forms a tack free film, as measured according to ASTM D 1640-03.

2. A method of making a pitch emulsion comprising blending a molten pitch containing from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % unsaponifiables, based on the total weight of the pitch; an emulsifying agent comprising a fatty acid, a chemically modified fatty acid, a rosin acid, a chemically modified rosin acid, or combinations thereof; and water with sufficient agitation to produce an emulsion, wherein the pitch emulsion forms a tack free film, as measured according to ASTM D 1640-03.

3. A method for reducing the development of fugitive dust in a dust-forming material, comprising applying the pitch emulsion of claim 1 to the dust-forming material in an amount to reduce fugitive dust formation.

4. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 where the pitch emulsion dries to a film of reduced tack.

5. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 where the pitch is a tall oil pitch.

6. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 where the emulsifying agent comprises a tall oil fatty acid, or a chemically modified tall oil fatty acid.

7. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 where the emulsifying agent is partially neutralized.

8. The pitch emulsion of claim 7 wherein the water has a pH of at least 8.

9. The pitch emulsion of claim 8 wherein the water has a pH of between 8 and 12.

10. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 wherein the emulsifying agent is selected from the group consisting of crude tall oil, distilled tall oil, TOFA, dimer acid, oxidized tall oil, maleated tall oil, oxidized and maleated tall oil and mixtures thereof.

11. A method of reducing fugitive dust in a rail car filled with a dust-forming material comprising applying the pitch emulsion of claim 1 to the dust-forming material in an amount to reduce fugitive dust formation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the rail car is filled with coal.

13. A method of reducing fugitive dust in a dust-forming material during transport, storage or handling comprising applying the pitch emulsion of claim 1 to the dust-forming material in an amount to reduce fugitive dust formation.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the dust-forming material is coal.

15. A pitch emulsion comprising particles of a pitch dispersed in water in the presence of an emulsifying agent and associated with a finely divided filler, wherein the pitch contains from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % unsaponifiables, based on the total weight of the pitch, and wherein the pitch emulsion forms a tack free film, as measured according to ASTM D 1640-03.

16. The pitch emulsion of claim 15 where the pitch is a tall oil pitch.

17. The pitch emulsion of claim 15 where the filler is a calcium salt.

18. The emulsion of claim 17 where the filler is calcium carbonate.

19. The pitch emulsion of claim 15 where the emulsifier is casein.

20. The pitch emulsion of claim 15 wherein the water has a pH of between 8 and 12.

21. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 wherein the pitch has an acid value of about 25 to about 50.

22. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 wherein the pitch is a tall oil pitch comprising about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % fatty acids, about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % resin acids, and about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % unsaponifiables, based on the total weight of the tall oil pitch.

23. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 wherein the emulsifying agent is present in an amount of from about 1 wt % to about 100 wt %, based on the weight of the pitch.

24. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 wherein the pitch emulsion has a solids concentration between about 30 wt % and about 60 wt %.

25. The pitch emulsion of claim 1 wherein the emulsifying agent comprises a chemically modified tall oil fatty acid.