Coke Production from Heavy Tar Fractions of West Siberian Petroleum and Disposal of Noncommercial Fractions

The delayed coking of heavy petroleum residues is studied with a view to greater processing of petroleum. Means of making greater use of petroleum coke are considered. The most promising approach to disposing of noncommercial tar fractions is to form composites with binder. Coking of heavy tar from West Siberian oil in the laboratory at 475–500°C results in the following material balance: 55–62% distillates and 22–28% petroleum coke. Characteristics of petroleum coke such as the ash content, total moisture content, sulfur content, and yield of volatiles are determined. The strength of composites based on petroleum coke fines and various binders (petroleum pitch, heavy tar, bitumen) is determined. The best and least expensive binder is bitumen with a softening point of 62°C. The dependence of the clinkering ability (Roga index RI) on the bitumen content in the composite with petroleum coke (in the range from 0 : 1 to 1.75 : 1) is studied. According to the results, the clinkering index meets the standard requirements (RI > 50) when the bitumen content is 20–50 wt %.