580 California St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA, 94104
Key research themes
1. How does the incorporation of biomass-derived additives influence the physicochemical and rheological properties of coke blends in metallurgical coke production?
This research area investigates the effects of substituting portions of traditional coal blends with bio-components derived from various biomass sources on the coke-making properties crucial for metallurgical processes. The focus is on measuring changes in parameters such as fluidity, dilatation, and mechanical strength of coke blends upon addition of bio-coke or biomass additives and understanding the interactions between biomass particle size, type, and blend composition. These studies matter due to the increasing demand for greener alternatives in coke production aimed at reducing carbon emissions without compromising coke quality.
Key finding: The study demonstrates that biomass additives (up to 20%) from various sources such as forestry residues and food industry waste influence coke thermoplastic properties differently, with smaller biomass particles (<0.5 mm)... Read more
Key finding: This paper found that modifying biocoke with specific environmentally friendly additives improved the interaction between biocoke and pitch, resulting in anode properties comparable to those produced with pure petroleum coke.... Read more
Key finding: Industrial-scale experiments show that introducing small concentrations (0.25 wt%) of non-caking corundum micropowders (α-Al2O3 and α-SiC) into coal blends modifies the organic mass crystallinity resulting in improved coke... Read more
Key finding: By applying classification and regression tree (CART) and random forest algorithms to plant operational data, the study establishes a robust predictive model for coke arithmetic mean size (AMS) based on coal blend properties... Read more
2. What are the effects of coke degradation under simulated blast furnace conditions, and how do these processes affect coke quality and performance?
This theme explores how coke materials degrade when exposed to the high temperature and reactive gas atmosphere conditions akin to those in blast furnaces. Research focuses on changes in microstrength, mechanical strength (tensile, abrasion resistance), and chemical transformations within the coke structure as influenced by annealing and gasification. Understanding degradation mechanisms is crucial to optimizing coke properties for blast furnace longevity and reduced operational costs.
Key finding: Experimental results reveal that coke microstrength significantly decreases with annealing temperature increases, while gasification at lower temperatures causes marginal microstrength changes. Gasification leads to greater... Read more
3. How is petroleum coke produced from heavy oil residues, and what are the implications for coke properties and sulfur content in by-product management?
This line of inquiry focuses on the processing parameters affecting petroleum coke formation from heavy oil residues, a by-product of the petroleum refining industry, to produce low-sulfur coke that meets environmental and metallurgical standards. Research evaluates catalytic cracking, delayed coking, and thermal cracking processes, analyzing the resultant coke’s chemical composition, especially sulfur content, porosity, and surface morphology, which influence the coke’s suitability for commercial and environmental applications.
Key finding: Chromatographic and SEM analyses demonstrate that delayed coking of heavy oil residues with an added recycling agent enhances coke yield and produces coke with reduced sulfur content and improved surface morphology.... Read more