Asfaltos Colombianos como Precursor de Mesofase Carbonacea

Abstract

Abstract: Two Colombian asphalts were used to determine their capacity as a precursor of mesophase carbonaceous materials. In order to obtain the mesophase, asphalts were carbonized in a stainless steel batch reactor using agitation of 28 rpm, atmospheric pressure and inert atmosphere with a nitrogen flow of 40 L/min. A factorial design 22 was used for each coal with three central points. Controllable variables were the carbonization temperature and residence time. The response variable was the mesophase content. The temperatures used were 420 and 460 °C, whereas the residence times were 90 and 210 min. The results showed that asphalts produced mesophase concentrations in the range of 50-88% v/v using low residence time and high carbonization temperature.