Synthesis and its characterization of pitch from pyrolyzed fuel oil (PFO)

Pitch synthesis from pyrolyzed fuel oil (PFO) was conducted to understand the empirical synthesis tendency as a function of reaction temperature. Additionally, the chemical and physical characteristics of PFO and produced pitch are identified using X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, softening point analysis, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. The produced pitch exhibited an enhanced stacking height (LC) value and C/H ratio, which is related to the formation of graphitic structure, according to the increased reaction temperature. The carbon residue yield obtained at 900 °C showed a gradually increased value of up to 42.58% in the sample synthesized at the temperature of 410 °C, depending on the increased reaction temperature. The molecular weight distribution of the produced pitches exhibited noticeable variation during the thermal reaction via MALDI-TOF analysis. The variation of the molecular weight fraction is assumed based on the pitch synthesis mechanism, e.g., polymerization, condensation and cracking reaction.

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