ORGANIC IRON COMPOUNDS AS CATALYST PRECURSORS IN PITCH PYROLYSIS

The influence of ferrocene, iron benzoate, iron naphthoate and iron ac etylacetonate on the pyrolysis of Ashland A240 petroleum pitch was inv estigated. The additives are catalyst precursors for iron-catalysed py rolysis with the following aims: (1) acceleration of the pyrolysis rea ctions; (2) production of pitches with improved coke yield-glass trans ition temperature relationship; and (3) conversion of organically to i norganically bound sulfur, which is less critical for coke puffing.