CARBON PRECURSORS FROM ANTHRACENE OIL - INSIGHT INTO THE REACTIONS OFANTHRACENE OIL WITH SULFUR

An anthracene oil with a boiling point of 250-370 degrees C was reacte d with sulfur (5-20 wt%) at 250-300 degrees C for 2 h. The extent of a nthracene oil conversion to a carbon precursor (pitch-like material) w as monitored from the weights of the residues obtained by thermogravim etric analysis at 350 degrees C (R-350), the temperature at which the anthracene oil residue is zero. Anthracene oil readily reacts with sul fur, the initial concentration of sulfur being the main controlling pa rameter of the reaction. The anthracene oil components showed differen t reactivities with sulfur, as determined by gas chromatography of the toluene-soluble fraction, and also followed different mechanisms beca use of their different structures. Studies by probe mass spectrometry of the pure compounds revealed the type of reaction mechanisms involve d in the process. The amount of sulfur incorporated into the reaction products determined the optical texture of the resultant cokes.