Definition: Petroleum coke (Code 3285)

Category: Energy

Petroleum coke is a black solid by-product, obtained mainly by cracking and carbonising petroleum-derived feedstock, vacuum bottoms, tar and pitches in processes such as delayed coking or fluid coking. It consists mainly of carbon (90% to 95%) and has a low ash content. Petroleum coke is used as a feedstock in coke ovens for the steel industry, for heating purposes, for electrode manufacture and for production of chemicals. “catalyst coke”, which is deposited on the catalyst during the refining processes, is also included. This coke is not recoverable and is usually burned as refinery fuel.