Distillation asphalt

The recovered asphalt (distillation residue) is subjected to further physical testing as required and the quantity of soluble binder in the asphalt mixture can be calculated, if required. The recovered aggregate can also be used for sieve analysis, if desired. 

Although distillation and elemental analysis of the fractions provide a good evaluation of the qualities of a crude oil, they are nevertheless insufficient. Indeed, the numerous uses of petroleum demand a detailed molecular analysis. This is true for all distillation fractions, certain crude oils being valued essentially for their light fractions used in motor fuels, others because they make quality lubricating oils and still others because they make excellent base stocks for paving asphalt. 

Vacuum distillation of the atmospheric residue complements primary distillation, enabli r.ecoyery of heavy distillate cuts from atmospheric residue that will un r o further conversion or will serve as lube oil bases. The vacuum residue containing most of the crude contaminants (metals, salts, sediments, sulfur, nitrogen, asphaltenes, Conradson carbon, etc.) is used in asphalt manufacture, for heavy fuel-oil, or for feed for others conversion processes. 

The products could be classified as a function of various criteria physical properties (in particular, volatility), the way they are created (primary distillation or conversion). Nevertheless, the classification most relevant to this discussion is linked to the end product use LPG, premium gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil, medium and heavy fuels, specialty products like solvents, lubricants, and asphalts. Indeed, the product specifications are generally related to the end use. Traditionally, they have to do with specific properties octane number for premium gasoline, cetane number for diesel oil as well as overall physical properties such as density, distillation curves and viscosity. 

Simple conventional refining is based essentially on atmospheric distillation. The residue from the distillation constitutes heavy fuel, the quantity and qualities of which are mainly determined by the crude feedstock available without many ways to improve it. Manufacture of products like asphalt and lubricant bases requires supplementary operations, in particular separation operations and is possible only with a relatively narrow selection of crudes (crudes for lube oils, crudes for asphalts). The distillates are not normally directly usable processing must be done to improve them, either mild treatment such as hydrodesulfurization of middle distillates at low pressure, or deep treatment usually with partial conversion such as catalytic reforming. The conventional refinery thereby has rather limited flexibility and makes products the quality of which is closely linked to the nature of the crude oil used. 

The conditions of pyrolysis either as low or high temperature carbonization, and the type of coal, determine the composition of Hquids produced, known as tars. Humic coals give greater yields of phenol (qv) [108-95-2] (up to 50%), whereas hydrogen-rich coals give more hydrocarbons (qv). The whole tar and distillation fractions are used as fuels and as sources of phenols, or as an additive ia carbonized briquettes. Pitch can be used as a biader for briquettes, for electrode carbon after coking, or for blending with road asphalt (qv). 

Asphalt, prepared from petroleum, often resembles native asphalt. When asphalt is produced by distillation, the product is called residual, or straight-mn, asphalt. However, if the asphalt is prepared by solvent extraction of residua or by light hydrocarbon (propane) precipitation, or if it is blown or otherwise treated, the name should be modified accordingly to qualify the product, eg, propane asphalt. 

The early developments of solvent processing were concerned with the lubricating oil end of the cmde. Solvent extraction processes are appHed to many usefiil separations in the purification of gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, and other oils. In addition, solvent extraction can replace fractionation in many separation processes in the refinery. For example, propane deasphalting (Fig. 7) has replaced, to some extent, vacuum distillation as a means of removing asphalt from reduced cmde oils. 

Large amounts of tar or pitch by-products are produced by industrial processes. The distillation of cmde petroleum (qv) yields a pitch-like residue termed bitumen or asphalt (qv). In the United States, these terms are interchangeable, but in Europe the term asphalt is generally restricted to naturally occurring rock or lake asphalt, whereas the residual product of cmde-od distillation is termed bitumen. Although these are important industrial materials produced in millions of metric tons annually, they are not included herein (see Asphalt Petroleum, products). 

Cut point, °C Athabasca, wt % distilled NW Asphalt Ridge, wt % distiUed" P.R. Springs, wt % distilled Tar Sand Triangle, wt % distilled ... 

Canadian and European practice (2—4) and geologists and archaeologists in the United States use bitumen or asphaltic bitumen as a synonym for asphalt, and apply asphalt to the mixture of bitumen and inorganic matter that is used for paving purposes. On the other hand, pitches and tars are derived from the destmctive distillation of coal, cmde oils, and other organic materials. 

Cmde oil containing about 30% asphalt can be refined completely in an atmospheric unit to an asphalt product. However, most cmde oil cannot be distilled satisfactorily to an asphalt product at atmospheric pressure because of the presence of substantial proportions of high boiling gas oil fractions. Thus, as a supplement to the atmospheric process, a second fractionating tower (a vacuum tower) is added (Fig. 1). 

Propane Asphalt. As noted above, cmde oils contain different quantities of residuum (Fig. 2) and, hence, asphalt. Asphalt is also a product of the propane deasphalting and fractionation process (5,6,21,22) which involves the precipitation of asphalt from a residuum stock by treatment with propane under controlled conditions. The petroleum charge stock is usually atmospheric-reduced residue from a primary distillation tower. 

Fig. 4. Comparison of propane deasphalting -with vacuum distillation of asphalt from Lagunillas, Venezuela cmde.

Generally, most asphalts are 79—88 wt % C, 7—13 wt % H, trace-8 wt % S, 2—8 wt % O, and trace-3 wt % N (Table 7). Trace metals such as iron, nickel, vanadium, calcium, titanium, magnesium, sodium, cobalt, copper, tin, and 2inc, occur in cmde oils. Vanadium and nickel are bound in organic complexes and, by virtue of the concentration (distillation) process by which asphalt is manufactured, are also found in asphalt. 

Distillation (ASTMD402). Approximate amounts of volatile constituents are deterrnined by this test which is particulady appHcable to cutback asphalt and road oils. 

Wax Content. The Deutsche Industrie Normen (DIN) method utilizes destmctive distillation of the asphalt, foUowed by freezing out of the wax in the distillate fractions. 

Heavier Fuel Oils and Lubricating Oils Low volatility distillates, e.g., motor oil. Asphalts and Tars Lowest volatility and generally a smelly, sticky mess filled with impurities. 

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