Petroleum Coke CAS 64741-79-3
Chelora Chemicals supplies green and calcined petroleum coke to aluminium anode producers, cement plants, power users and carbon product manufacturers worldwide. Every consignment leaves with a batch-specific COA covering sulphur, volatile matter, ash, metals and sizing, the current SDS and full export documentation.
Also known as: Pet coke · Petcoke · Green petroleum coke · Calcined petroleum coke · CPC / GPC · Anode grade coke
Request a quotation
Price, lead time and a sample COA for Petroleum Coke, usually within one working day. We ship worldwide.
Request a Quote Email the DeskDocumentation
- Batch-specific COA (sulphur, volatile matter, ash, metals, sizing)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Transport and export documents
- Third-party inspection on request
- Certificate of origin
What is Petroleum Coke?
Petroleum coke is the solid carbon residue left when heavy refinery residue is thermally cracked in a delayed coker. It is almost pure carbon, with sulphur, metals and ash as the variables that decide its value.
Green petroleum coke comes straight from the coker. Calcined petroleum coke has been heated to about 1300 °C to drive off volatiles and develop its crystalline structure.
Two markets dominate. Anode-grade coke, low in sulphur and metals, is calcined and made into carbon anodes for aluminium smelting. Fuel-grade coke, higher in sulphur, is burned in cement kilns and power plants.
The anode and fuel markets have quite different specifications and prices, and a coke that fails anode specification is simply fuel, which is why the sulphur, vanadium and nickel figures matter so much.
Why petroleum coke specifically
- Very high carbon content. Over 90% carbon in green coke, rising above 98% after calcining, which is what anode manufacture requires.
- High calorific value. Higher than most coals, which is why cement kilns and power plants use fuel-grade coke.
- Low ash. Far lower than coal, an advantage in both anode and some combustion applications.
- Anode structure. Calcining develops the crystalline structure and electrical conductivity that aluminium anodes need.
How Petroleum Coke is Manufactured
Petroleum coke is produced in a delayed coker, with calcining as a separate downstream step.
- Vacuum residue feed. The heaviest fraction from crude distillation feeds the coker; its metals and sulphur carry into the coke.
- Delayed coking. Residue is heated to about 500 °C and held in coke drums where it cracks, producing liquids, gas and solid coke.
- Coke cutting. Coke is removed from the drums by high-pressure water jets and dewatered.
- Sizing. Green coke is crushed and screened to the size the customer requires.
- Calcining. Anode-grade green coke is calcined at about 1300 °C in a rotary kiln or shaft furnace to remove volatiles.
- Quality segregation. Shot coke and high-sulphur material are segregated to fuel grade rather than anode grade.
Typical Commercial Specification
Figures below cover both anode and fuel grades, which differ substantially. Tell us the application and we will send the matching specification.
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Black solid, granular or lump |
| Fixed carbon | 86 – 92% green coke; 98%+ calcined |
| Total sulphur | 0.5 – 3% anode grade; 3 – 7% fuel grade |
| Volatile matter | 8 – 14% green coke; under 0.5% calcined |
| Ash content | 0.1 – 0.5% to grade |
| Moisture | To grade, typically 8 – 12% as shipped for green coke |
| Vanadium | To grade, critical for anode use |
| Nickel | To grade, critical for anode use |
| Real density (calcined) | 2.04 to 2.09 g/cm³ |
| Hardgrove grindability index | To grade, relevant for fuel applications |
| Sizing | To customer requirement |
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Composition | Carbon with sulphur, metals and ash |
| Appearance | Black granular or lump solid |
| Fixed carbon | 86 to 92% green; above 98% calcined |
| Bulk density | About 0.8 to 0.9 g/cm³ green coke |
| Real density (calcined) | 2.04 to 2.09 g/cm³ |
| Calorific value | About 8000 to 8500 kcal/kg for fuel grade |
| Volatile matter | 8 to 14% green; under 0.5% calcined |
| Electrical conductivity | Develops on calcining; essential for anode use |
| Dust behaviour | Generates fine, pervasive dust in handling |
| Self-heating | Possible in large stockpiles of high-volatile green coke |
| Incompatibilities | Strong oxidisers |
Behaviour in the process
Petroleum coke is inert chemically but demanding physically:
- Dust generation. Fine black dust is pervasive, staining and a respiratory concern; enclosed handling and water spraying are standard.
- Self-heating in stockpiles. High-volatile green coke can self-heat in large piles; monitoring and pile management matter.
- Moisture carried as shipped. Green coke ships with 8 to 12% moisture to control dust, which must be accounted for in pricing and in combustion.
- Sulphur reports to emissions. Burning fuel-grade coke produces SO₂ proportional to its sulphur, which governs where it can be used.
Petcoke Grades and Alternatives
Petroleum coke is bought by grade, and the grade is decided by sulphur and metals rather than by anything the buyer can change.
| Material | Origin / type | When it is the right choice |
|---|---|---|
| Anode-grade green coke | Low sulphur, low metals | Calcining for aluminium anode manufacture |
| Calcined petroleum coke | 98%+ carbon, calcined | Aluminium anodes, graphite electrodes and carbon products |
| Fuel-grade green coke | High sulphur | Cement kilns, power generation and industrial fuel |
| Needle coke | Premium anisotropic coke | Graphite electrodes for electric arc steelmaking |
| Coal | Thermal coal | The main alternative fuel; higher ash, lower calorific value |
Stated plainly: a refinery cannot choose to make anode-grade coke if it runs sour heavy crude. That is why anode coke is structurally tight and why the price gap between anode and fuel grade persists.
Industries We Supply Petroleum Coke To
Petroleum coke serves aluminium, cement, power, steel and carbon product industries.
Where Petroleum Coke is Used
Fuel-grade coke for cement and power takes the larger tonnage, while anode-grade coke for aluminium commands the higher value.
In aluminium anode manufacture
Calcined coke is mixed with coal tar pitch and formed into anodes, which are baked and then consumed in the Hall-Héroult cell. Sulphur and metals are the critical specifications: vanadium and nickel report into the aluminium and affect its grade, while sulphur affects anode reactivity and smelter emissions. A smelter cannot compensate downstream for a coke that misses specification.
As cement kiln fuel
Petcoke's high calorific value and low ash suit cement kilns, where the sulphur is largely captured in the clinker. That capture is why cement can burn coke with sulphur levels no power station could accept, and it is the main reason fuel-grade petcoke and the cement industry fit together so well.
Need a specific grade, purity and packing format?
Tell us the grade, the grade, sulphur limit and sizing your plant requires, the packing format you can receive and the annual quantity. We will come back with a price, a lead time, a sample COA and the full documentation set.
Quality Control & Testing
Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with the full analysis, because the grade determination depends on several figures together rather than one.
- Total sulphur — the primary grade determinant for both anode and fuel use.
- Vanadium and nickel — critical for anode grade, reporting directly into the aluminium.
- Volatile matter — defining green versus calcined and affecting calcining yield.
- Ash content — relevant to both anode quality and combustion.
- Moisture as shipped — affecting both pricing and combustion calculations.
- Sizing and hardgrove index — confirming handling and grinding behaviour.
Common Process Problems & Likely Causes
When petroleum coke causes trouble, it is usually sulphur, metals, moisture or sizing. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Anode quality below specification | Sulphur, vanadium or nickel above limits | Full metals and sulphur analysis against the anode specification |
| Calcining yield low | Volatile matter higher than expected | Volatile matter figure and kiln operating data |
| SO₂ emissions above permit | Sulphur content above the assumed level | Sulphur figure and fuel blend calculation |
| Grinding capacity limited | Hardgrove index lower than design | HGI figure and mill capacity |
| Cargo weight dispute | Moisture content as shipped | Moisture result and weighing basis in the contract |
| Dust complaints at the terminal | Dry cargo and inadequate suppression | Moisture as shipped and dust suppression at handling points |
Packaging, Storage & Shipping
- Standard packing. Bulk vessel and truck cargoes, and jumbo bags for smaller quantities.
- Storage. Covered or managed open stockpiles with dust suppression and drainage control.
- Dust control. Water spraying, enclosed conveying and wind fencing; petcoke dust is pervasive and attracts regulatory attention.
- Self-heating. Monitor temperature in large stockpiles of high-volatile green coke and manage pile height and turnover.
- Moisture. Green coke ships moist to control dust; account for it in weighing and combustion calculations.
- Drainage. Stockpile runoff can carry metals and should be contained and treated.
- Shelf life. Indefinite; physical handling and dust rather than chemistry are the limits.
- Transport classification. Not classified as dangerous goods for transport.
Hazards & Safe Handling
Petroleum coke is chemically inert with low acute toxicity. The real concerns are respirable dust, stockpile self-heating and the sulphur dioxide produced when it is burned.
- Respirable dust. Fine coke dust presents a respiratory hazard; use extraction, suppression and respiratory protection in handling areas.
- Low acute toxicity. Petroleum coke itself is not classified as acutely toxic or carcinogenic in most jurisdictions.
- Self-heating. Large stockpiles of high-volatile green coke can self-heat; monitor temperature and manage pile geometry.
- Sulphur dioxide. Combustion produces SO₂ proportional to sulphur content, which governs permitting and scrubber requirements.
- Metals in dust and runoff. Vanadium and nickel in dust and stockpile runoff require containment and, in some jurisdictions, monitoring.
- Mechanical hazards. Bulk handling, conveying and stockpile work carry significant mechanical and engulfment risks.
- Hot calcined coke. Calcined coke leaving the kiln is hot; thermal burns are a real risk at discharge.
- Environment. Contain dust and runoff; stockpile management is often a permit condition.
Regulatory & Compliance Notes
Petroleum coke is unregulated for transport, with emissions and dust regulation dominating its use. The notes below are orientation rather than legal advice.
- GHS classification. Generally not classified as hazardous, though respirable dust provisions apply.
- Transport. Not classified as dangerous goods. Standard bulk cargo documentation applies, with some jurisdictions treating it as a bulk cargo under IMSBC.
- Emissions regulation. SO₂, NOx and particulate limits govern where fuel-grade coke can be burned and whether scrubbing is required.
- Dust and stockpile regulation. Storage and handling are subject to fugitive dust rules, with permit conditions in many jurisdictions.
- Anode specifications. Aluminium smelters specify sulphur, vanadium, nickel and physical properties contractually rather than by public standard.
- REACH and inventories. Registered under EU REACH as a petroleum substance.
We Supply Petroleum Coke Worldwide
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Petroleum Coke from India and from partner sources to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America, handling the export documentation, transport paperwork and freight so the material arrives ready to use.
- Incoterms. EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and DAP quoted to suit your purchasing terms and freight arrangements.
- Ports. Regular shipments through Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with other ports arranged where routing and cargo rules allow.
- Documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, COA, SDS and the transport declaration issued as a complete set.
- Flexible volumes. From a container of jumbo bags up to repeat bulk shipments on a supply contract.
- Supply continuity. Because we are independent of any one producer, a plant turnaround or a shipping disruption at one source does not have to become your stock-out.
Buying Petroleum Coke from Chelora
We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For petroleum coke that means settling three things at enquiry: anode or fuel grade and the sulphur and metals limits that go with it, the sizing your plant handles, and the bulk logistics and dust control at your receiving terminal.
- Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA (sulphur, volatile matter, ash, metals, sizing), plus SDS and the full transport paperwork.
- Analysis before commitment. Representative analysis shared ahead of a commercial order so your lab can qualify the material.
- Quantities. From a container of jumbo bags through to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
- Grade matching. Green or calcined coke at the sulphur, metals and sizing specification your anode plant, kiln or boiler requires.
- Inspection. Independent third-party inspection available at loading when the contract requires it.
- Related products. Base Oil — Group I / II / III, Paraffin Wax, Naphtha and other feedstocks alongside Petroleum Coke from one supplier.
How ordering works
- Send the enquiry. Product, grade or purity, quantity, destination port and the Incoterm you buy on. If you have a spec sheet, attach it — it saves a round trip.
- We quote. Price, lead time, packing format and a sample COA, normally within one working day.
- Qualify the supply. For first orders or critical applications, we share the analysis and handling documentation so your technical and safety teams can sign off before you commit.
- Confirm the order. Proforma invoice issued; payment terms agreed against the volume and the relationship.
- Allocation and QC. Material allocated and released against a batch-specific COA, with an independent inspection where the contract calls for it.
- Ship and document. Filled, labelled and loaded with the full export document set, and tracked through to arrival.
Petroleum Coke — Common Questions
The questions our technical desk is asked most often about Petroleum Coke. If yours isn't here, call or email and you will reach someone who knows the chemistry.
What is the CAS number of petroleum coke?
Green petroleum coke is commonly given CAS 64741-79-3, with EC number 265-080-3. Green coke is classified under HS code 2713.11 and calcined coke under 2713.12.
What is petroleum coke used for?
Anode-grade coke is calcined and made into carbon anodes for aluminium smelting. Fuel-grade coke is burned in cement kilns and power plants. Needle coke goes into graphite electrodes for electric arc steelmaking.
Do you supply petroleum coke worldwide?
Yes. Chelora Chemicals supplies and exports green and calcined petroleum coke worldwide — across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, as well as throughout India, in bulk cargoes and jumbo bags.
What is the difference between green and calcined coke?
Green coke comes straight from the delayed coker with 8 to 14% volatile matter. Calcined coke has been heated to about 1300 °C to drive off volatiles and develop the crystalline structure and electrical conductivity that anodes require.
What makes a coke anode grade rather than fuel grade?
Low sulphur and low metals, particularly vanadium and nickel. Metals report directly into the aluminium and sulphur affects anode reactivity and smelter emissions. A coke that misses these limits is simply fuel.
How is petroleum coke produced?
In a delayed coker, where vacuum residue is heated to about 500 °C and held in coke drums until it cracks into liquids, gas and solid coke. The coke is cut out with high-pressure water, dewatered and sized.
Why is anode-grade coke in tight supply?
Because it requires low-sulphur, low-metal residue, which only refineries running lighter sweeter crude produce. Most refining has moved toward heavier sour crude, so anode-grade supply has not kept pace with aluminium demand.
Is petroleum coke hazardous?
It is chemically inert with low acute toxicity and is not classified as dangerous goods. The real concerns are respirable dust, possible self-heating in large stockpiles, and sulphur dioxide emissions when it is burned.
Why does petcoke ship with moisture?
Because green coke is quenched and cut with water, and the residual 8 to 12% moisture suppresses dust during handling and transport. It must be accounted for in weighing and in combustion calculations.
Why can cement kilns burn high-sulphur petcoke?
Because the sulphur is largely captured in the clinker rather than released as SO₂. That capture is why cement can use fuel-grade coke at sulphur levels no power station could accept without scrubbing.
How should petroleum coke be stored?
In covered or managed stockpiles with dust suppression, drainage containment and, for high-volatile green coke, temperature monitoring to detect self-heating. Dust control is usually a permit condition.
What cargo sizes are available?
Jumbo bags for smaller quantities and bulk truck or vessel cargoes for volume supply. Orders run from a container of bagged material up to full bulk cargoes on contract supply.
Ready to source Petroleum Coke?
Send us your specification, grade and annual volume. You will get a price, a realistic lead time and a sample COA from someone who understands what the material has to do in your process — delivered anywhere in the world.