Feedstock conversion, carbon black

The source of all carbon relevant to the present context is the feedstock of hydrocarbon molecules (aliphatic, aromatic, with and without heteroatoms). Figure 10 summarizes the possibilities for their conversion into black carbon. The chemical route comprises polymerization into aromatic hydrocarbons with final thermal dehydrogenation. This process often includes a liquid crystalline phase immediately before final solidification. In this phase large aromatic molecules can sclf-organizc into parallel stacks and form well-ordered precursors for graphitic structures with large planar graphene layers. This phase is referred to... 

Needless to say, the focal point of an entire carbon black plant is the reactor. The basic conversion process is universal in that all reactors utilize the concept of burning a fuel with excess air to completion, atomizing oil feedstock into the hot products of combustion for thermal decomposition, and quenching the reaction with direct water sprays. 

Furnace carbon black is produced from the incomplete combustion of what is called carbon black oil feedstock, which consists of heavy aromatic residue oils. In the United States this oil is commonly the bottoms from catalytic cracker units. They are commonly referred to as cat cracker bottoms and contain relatively low hydrogen content (and conversely high carbon content). In Europe and other locations, the carbon black oil used is commonly a byproduct of high-temperature steam cracking of such products as naphtha, gas condensate, and gas oil to produce ethylene, propylene, and other olefins. Here, no catalysts are used in the cracking process. These types of carbon black oils are mainly unsaturated hydrocarbons. A third source of carbon black feedstock is coal tar, which is commonly used in China to manufacture carbon black. 

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