Analysis and Characterization of High-Volatile Petroleum Coke

Syrian petroleum coke is produced by the delayed coking unit at the Homs Oil Refinery. This unit was designed and built during the late sixties of last century for the purpose of maximizing gasoline and distillate yields using a feedstock of residue materials. The petcoke produced is considered merely as a byproduct of little commercial value. This is mainly because of its high sulphur content and the high percentage of fines produced. It is being sold at present in the home market or exported as green untreated coke. Upgrading the produced petcoke by improving its quality and reducing the sulphur content to an acceptable level has always been a prime target of the Syrian refining industry.