have an advantage when processing coke containing high quantity of fines and high VCM.
6.1.2.4. Uses and Economic Aspects
Worldwide annual consumption of industrial carbon was about 25 × 106 t/a in 1994, excluding metallurgical coke (see Table 6.1.2.5 and Figure 6.1.2.10); main products are carbon anodes and carbon black. Two thirds of this margin is calcinate from petroleum coke [6, 7, 27, 28].
Table 6.1.2.5 World Production of Industrial Carbon 1994.
| Carbon products | Production (t/a) | Average product value ($/t) | Market value (109 $/a) |
|---|---|---|---|
| From petroleum coke | |||
| Carbon anodes | 9 × 106 | 700 | 6.3 |
| Söderberg anodes | 4 × 106 | 500 | 2.0 |
| Graphite electrodes | 1.1 × 106 | 5500 | 6.05 |
| Reduction medium/TiO2 process | 2 × 106 | 600 | 1.2 |
| Partly from petroleum coke | |||
| Carbon cathodes | 6 × 105 | 1300 | 0.78 |
| From other products | |||
| Carbon black | 8 × 106 | 1500 | 12 |
| Activated carbons | 5 × 105 | 3000 | 1.5 |
| Carbon construction materials | 1 × 105 | 800 | 0.8 |
| Electrographite powder | 8 × 104 | 1500 | 0.12 |
| Carbon fibers | 6 × 104 | 7 × 104 | 4.2 |
| Synthetic diamonds | 50 | 15 × 106 | 0.75 |
| Total | ∼24 × 106 | ∼36 | |
Figure 6.1.2.10 Using of calcined petroleum coke 2014.
Figure 6.1.2.11 World market profile for petroleum coke 2010.
In 2014, the production of calcined petroleum coke is expected to be 29 × 106 t/a with 74% about 21.5 × 106 t/a being used for aluminum anodes.
Figure 6.1.2.11 shows the world market profile for petroleum coke in 2010 [6, 7, 29]. The relations are the same as now: more than 70% of petroleum coke is burned as fuel.
6.1.2.4.1 Green Petroleum Coke
More than 70% of the petroleum coke produced is marketed as green coke. This green coke is a cheap fuel used primarily in the cement industry and for power generation. About half of the worldwide produced green coke amount is used for these two utilizations. Normally a mixture of coal and green coke with coal as main component is used, except for the cement industry in Europe, where the green coke dominates.
Due to the use of green coke for cement production, it is of interest to see the application of new quality “green cement” named “Celitement,” which needs only 50% of energy for the cement production [30].
Other green coke utilizations are iron and steel, lime, paper and pulp, and glass production.
Qualities with sulfur content below 1.5% are used as a supplementary substance for hard coke production, if the coal has too high a VCM content. In addition, this green coke is used in the production of carbides too.
There is increasing use of petroleum coke as addition to metallurgical coke [31] primarily used in blast ovens for producing iron.
Green coke is sold worldwide. The biggest transshipment center with some million tons of storage capacity is Rotterdam. For storing green coke it is recommended to spray the surface with water and dust bonding agent (e.g. extract of orange peels that are used in coal mines as well) to avoid dust clouds.
6.1.2.4.2 Calcined Petroleum Coke
6.1.2.4.2.1 Anode‐Grade Coke (Regular Calcinate)
Most calcined petroleum coke is used for production of carbon and Söderberg anodes (Table 6.1.2.5 and Figure 6.1.2.10). Moreover, as aluminum production with Söderberg anodes is declining due to environmental aspects, the requirement will shift more and more to carbon anodes. The coke quality required is called anode‐grade coke or regular calcinate [27].
Worldwide aluminum production was 22.6 × 106 t in 2004 with a growth up to 52 × 106 t/a in 2014. 22.5 × 106 t/a (43%) of the aluminum production capacities in 2014 are located in China. The dominant role held by North America and Western Europe is a thing of the past. 3–5 × 106 t/a aluminum production is nominated from North America, Western Europe, East Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Middle East. Aluminum production is expected to increase about 9% per year. With an average consumption of about 43 kg regular calcinate per ton of produced aluminum, the worldwide regular calcinate demand in the aluminum industry is approximately 21.5 × 106 t/a in 2013. This is 74% of the yearly production of calcined petroleum coke.
The
