Abstract: Using catalytic cracking cycle oil from a certain petrochemical company as raw material, the changes in the aggregation state of the mesophase asphalt in the high viscosity system were analyzed. In the later stage of the polycondensation reaction, low-speed, high-temperature, and long-term settling separation were used to increase the content of mesophase asphalt. The physical properties of the raw material and mesophase asphalt were characterized by mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, polarizing microscope, and other methods. A rapid method for determining the softening point of mesophase asphalt using polarizing microscope and thermal bench was established, and the differences in the preparation of mesophase asphalt by thermal polycondensation of catalytic cracking cycle oil before and after aromatic hydrocarbon enrichment were compared. The results showed that the settling separation effect of the condensation products was significant, with an mesophase asphalt content of 100%. The catalytic cracking cycle oil was directly thermally condensed to obtain mesophase asphalt with a yield of only 13.2%. Its softening point was greater than 320 ℃, and a high embedded structure content of 82.3%. After refining and enriching aromatic hydrocarbons with furfural, the polycondensation reaction activity was moderate. An mesophase asphalt with a yield of 28.5%, a softening point of 280 ℃, and mesophase asphalt content of 100% could be obtained.

Key words: catalytic cracking cycle oil, thermal polycondensation, mesophase asphalt, settling separation, softening point