Carbon anodes are widely used by the aluminium production process to manufacture calcined anthracite. This is due to its high calorific value and electrical conductivity, low ash content, and mechanical strength. Additionally, it is highly compatible with coal tar pitch (CTP) as a binder for making prebaked anodes, Soderberg paste, and cold ramming pastes. It has been demonstrated that anthracite could be substituted for petroleum coke to improve the performance of carbon anodes and reduce costs (Hussein et.al., 2022; Xiangyang et.al., 2016).
Anthracite was used to replace a portion fine coke in the recipe of anodes. This was done to test its effect on baked and 'green' densities. The results showed that replacing coke with calcined anthracite increased the green density and decreased the baking loss but did not significantly affect the apparent density of the anodes. This may be attributed to the lower density of anthracite compared to coke, which has a negative effect on the air and CO2 reactivities of the anodes.
The anthracite material is also ideal for the preparation of anodes in lithium-ion battery. Anthracite has a high capacity due to its micropores and crystalline structure. However, the cycling performance of anthracite remains inferior to commercial hard carbon.
Due to the rapid industrialization of emerging countries and their urbanization, global demand for metallic materials such as aluminum and iron is on the rise. This in turn leads to an increase in the demand for coal as well as other raw material, which is what drives the market of calcined iron.
Several factors, including temperature and heating duration, can affect the calcination of anthracite. An example is that a shorter time of heating at a low temperature can improve properties like reactivity. A longer heating period can cause slag to form during calcination, which will have a negative impact on the anode's performance.
The present study has examined the effect of varying the calcination process and the heating duration on the anode properties of pristine anthracite coal provided by Vang Danh coal, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The anode properties of calcined anthracite coal were analyzed in terms of initial charge-discharge profile, long-term cycling performance, and rate capability. The resulting anode powders were also characterized in terms of porosity, morphology, and electrolyte adsorption capacities. The morphology and porosity of calcined anthracite were improved by calcination, while the adsorption capacities of Na+ ions were enhanced by varying the heating duration. The findings of this study suggest that calcined anthracite is a promising substitute for petroleum coke in carbon anodes for both Li- and Na-ion batteries. However, further investigations are needed to optimize the anthracite porous structure to enhance Na+-ion adsorption and promote cycling capacity. Moreover, the substitution of anthracite in carbon bricks and electrode pastes can be beneficial for reducing the cost of Na-ion batteries. This will help the battery manufacturers to minimize their expenditures and reduce environmental pollution.
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