Petcoke or petroleum coke is a solid carbon rich byproduct of oil refining. This is used in many applications. It is an alternative energy source to coal, as it releases less sulfur and nitrogen oxides. It is widely employed in the Hall-Heroult process for aluminum smelting to produce carbon anodes, due to its availability, low impurity levels and low cost.
The global calcined petroleum coke market is growing rapidly due to rising iron & steel production, development of cement and power generation industries, heavy crude oil supply growth and favorable government initiatives regarding green environment. The demand is expected to continue increasing as calcined coal is used in electrodes which are used in the metals sector for electric induction and arc furnaces.
Different types of calcined petroleum coke are available in the market including normal, low sulfur, and high sulfur grades. The smelters typically select a certain type of calcined petroleum coke depending on the quality of carbon they need to make their electrodes. A typical smelter will use a combination of both rotary and shaft calcined coke to meet their specific needs.
During the process of calcination, petroleum coke is heated to high temperature in order for its volatile constituents to be burned out. The coke is then pulverized by intense heat and pressure in a series mills to achieve the desired particle shape and size. The pulverized material is then fed into the boiler, where it is heated further and dehydrated to remove any water.
When the coke is cooled, it becomes solid and has a dark appearance similar to coal. The calcination procedure reduces the ash in petcoke. This reduced ash makes the petcoke suitable for a wide range of applications. Calcined petroleum is used as a raw material in the production of metals and chemicals, but it also has a wide range of applications. It is a key component in the manufacturing of cement and could be used as a fuel alternative.
Testing petcoke samples is an important part of the calcination and production processes. The tests performed are necessary to ensure the safety and usefulness of the coke. These tests allow manufacturers to track and verify the amount of sulfur in the coke, as well as verifying the purity of the carbon.
The calcined coke market is fragmented. Many large and small companies are competing for a piece of the market. These players are implementing strategies such as strategic alliances, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches to strengthen their positions in the market. APAC is home to the fastest-growing market for calcined oil coke, with China and India as the major contributors. The major players in the calcined petroleum coke industry include Oxbow Corporation, Atha Group, COCAN (HUBEI) GRAPHITE MILL INC., Graphite India Limited, Maniyar Group of Industries (Maniayargroup), India Carbon Ltd, Minmat Ferro Alloys Private Limited and Rain Industries Limited.
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