1. What It Is:
Petroleum coke, or pet coke, is a carbon-rich solid material derived from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes. It is a byproduct of delayed coking, a process that converts heavy crude residues into lighter products.
2. Types of Pet Coke:
Fuel Grade Coke:
- High sulfur and metals
- Used as a fuel in cement kilns, power plants, and steel industries
Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC):
- Heat-treated to remove volatile matter
- Used in aluminum production (anodes), graphite, and electrodes
3. Key Properties:
- Carbon Content: ~85–95%
- Sulfur Content: Varies (low to high)
- Moisture: Low
- Ash: Low in CPC, higher in fuel-grade
- Form: Black, porous lumps or powder
4. Applications:
- Industrial Fuel (fuel-grade)
- Aluminum smelting (calcined)
- Steel and titanium industries
- Foundries and chemical manufacturing
5. Advantages:
- High energy content (~7,500–8,500 kcal/kg)
- Lower cost than coal
- Widely available as refinery byproduct
6. Environmental Considerations:
- Fuel-grade pet coke is high in sulfur and may cause SOx emissions
- Requires pollution control systems when used as fuel
