Product

Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC) is a high-carbon material produced by thermally treating green petroleum coke (GPC) at temperatures of 1,200–1,500°C in a rotary kiln or rotary hearth furnace in the absence of air. This calcination process drives off residual volatile matter, moisture, and hydrogen, producing a dense, highly pure carbonaceous material with a fixed carbon content of 98–99 wt%. CPC is the direct downstream product of GPC and the principal carbon raw material for the aluminium smelting and steel industries.

Production

GPC from the delayed coker is fed into a rotary kiln calciner operating at 1,200–1,500°C. Calcination increases real density, reduces electrical resistivity, and eliminates volatile matter that would otherwise cause instability in electrode and anode applications. Anode-grade CPC requires low-sulphur GPC feedstock (typically sponge coke); high-sulphur or shot coke GPC is unsuitable for anode production.

Key Properties

Applications

• Aluminium smelting anodes — the primary application; CPC is the carbon source for prebaked anodes in the Hall-Héroult electrolytic process
• Steel recarburizer — added to steel melts to adjust carbon content and improve quality​
• Graphite electrode manufacturing — blended with needle coke binders in electrode production​
• Titanium dioxide production, brake pads, and lithium-ion battery components​

References

1. Cindy, Shibang Machinery (Dec 12, 2025). What is Calcined Petroleum Coke Used For and How to Grind It?
2. Cocan Graphite. The Essential Guide to Calcined Petroleum Coke: Properties, Applications, and Benefits (Accessed Mar 3, 2026)
3. Patra, B. (2020). Impact of quality changes in calcined petroleum coke (CPC) on anodes used for aluminium production. In TRAVAUX 49, Proceedings of the 38^th International ICSOBA Conference (pp. 511–523). November 16–18, 2020
4. SINOMENCO (May 5, 2025). Calcined Petroleum Coke: Key Properties and Applications