Heat treatment process and system for increased pitch yields

Pitch production systems utilizing coal tar or decant oil for coal or petroleum based pitch are disclosed. Total pitch production yields are increased by heat treating distillate fractions from 5 the pitch production process. A heat treatment system and process are disclosed in embodiments. The heaviest distillates having the highest molecular weights are subjected to heat treatment, though other embodiments contemplate heat treating a variety of combined distillate fractions. The heat treatment systems require heat soaking the distillate(s) at elevated temperatures of 459 535°C at a near-constant temperature with near-uniform flow. A fraction of the heat-treated 0 distillate may be reintroduced to the pitch production system as part of a continuous process.