Coking

Coking refers to the thermal decomposition of organic materials, particularly coal, heavy oil, or other carbon-rich substances, in the absence of air or oxygen. This process transforms the feedstock into a solid, carbon-rich residue called coke, along with volatile byproducts such as gases and liquids. The primary purpose of coking is to produce coke, which is used as a fuel and reducing agent in the smelting of iron ore in blast furnaces, though it's also used in other industries and applications, as well as for the secondary by-products. The specific conditions, including temperature, pressure, and duration, influence the quality and composition of the resulting coke.

Coking meaning with examples

• The steel industry heavily relies on coking to produce high-quality coke, a critical component in blast furnaces. This process involves heating coal to extremely high temperatures without oxygen, transforming it into a strong, porous material. Coke's high carbon content and strength make it an ideal reducing agent in iron ore smelting.
• Oil refineries employ a delayed coking process to upgrade heavy residual oils, converting them into lighter fractions and petroleum coke. This process involves heating the oil at high temperatures and pressures, causing a cracking process to break down the large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller ones suitable for various fuel applications. This process produces valuable products and coke.
• Historically, coking ovens were used to produce coal gas and coke simultaneously. The coal gas was used for lighting and heating, while the coke was used as a solid fuel. This older system produced a gas, coke, and liquid byproducts, which all required an intricate system of processing to separate them from each other.
• During the coking of coal, many byproducts are produced. These byproducts include coke oven gas, coal tar, and light oils, which can be further refined. coking plants must have methods to remove the contaminants from the air during the process to meet environmental standards. This often leads to more complicated coking practices.