Graphitizable Pitch from Microwave Plasma Pyrolysis of Natural Gas

An innovative approach of microwave plasma was utilized to convert natural gas into tar, from which a highly graphitizable pitch was derived using fractional distillation. The natural gas-derived pitch (NGDP) was thoroughly characterized, and the graphitizability of the carbonized NGDP was assessed using polarized light microscopy. The NGDP and, for comparison, needle coke, petroleum coke, and shot coke were subjected to graphitization heat treatment (GR) at 2500 °C. Results indicate that the graphitizability of the NGDP exceeds those of all industrial standard cokes. The GR-NGDP showed the highest degree of graphitization and crystallite size among all samples.. Authors: Gharpure, Akshay [Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000188233949); Viswanathan, Vignesh [H Quest Vanguard, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)]; Mantri, Aayush [H Quest Vanguard, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)]; Skoptsov, George [H Quest Vanguard, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)]; Vander Wal, Randy L. [Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000258479726). DOE Contract: FE0031793. Subjects: 03 NATURAL GAS; 08 HYDROGEN; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; aromatic compounds; carbon; coke; graphite; hydrocarbons; methane pyrolysis; microwave plasma; pitch; plasma; synthetic graphite