Petroleum Coke: Unveiling the Carbon-Rich Material
Petroleum coke, commonly known as petcoke, is a final carbon-rich solid material produced from oil refining, belonging to the group of fuels known as cokes. Unlike coal-derived coke, petcoke specifically originates from the final cracking process in coker units within petroleum refineries. This thermo-based chemical engineering process involves splitting long-chain hydrocarbons into shorter chains, resulting in the formation of petcoke. It is worth noting that while petcoke is the predominant coke derived from petroleum, other types are derived from coal.
During the coking process in petroleum refineries, residual oils from various distillation processes undergo treatment at high temperatures and pressures. This treatment leads to the production of petcoke by driving off gases and volatiles while separating the remaining light and heavy oils. These operations, known as "coking processes," primarily utilize chemical engineering plant operations, with delayed coking being a common method.
Petroleum coke exists in two primary grades: fuel grade, which is high in sulfur and metals, and anode grade, which is low in sulfur and metals. Initially, the raw coke extracted from the coker is referred to as green coke, indicating its unprocessed state. Further processing involves calcining the green coke in a rotary kiln to remove residual volatile hydrocarbons, resulting in calcined petroleum coke. This calcined form can undergo additional processing in an anode baking oven to produce anode coke with desired physical properties and shapes, predominantly used in the aluminium and steel industries.
Petcoke, comprising over 80% carbon, emits 5% to 10% more carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal per unit of energy when burned. Furthermore, due to its higher energy content, petcoke emits between 30 and 80 percent more CO2 per unit of weight than coal. The disparity in CO2 production between coal and coke per unit of energy is influenced by factors such as moisture content and volatile hydrocarbons present in both coal and coke.
Explore the multifaceted world of petroleum coke, from its production intricacies to its diverse applications across industries, and gain insights into its environmental implications and significance in the global energy landscape.
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