Utilization of biocoke as raw material for carbon anode production

Calcined biocokes were successfully produced from wood precursors through pyrolysis at high temperature (1200 °C). The resultant material mimics the microstructure of calcined petroleum coke and presents high carbon content, making them a potential raw material for carbon anodes used for the production of aluminum. The properties of these biocokes that are important for anode production, such as real density, crystalline length, carbon content, particle surface area, and chemical surface characteristics, were determined using gas pycnometer, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, BET, and FTIR. The microstructure and the morphology of biocokes were characterized using SEM. The degree of structural disorder in the biocokes was evaluated by Raman spectroscopy. The objective of this work is to study how the partial replacement of calcined petroleum coke by a biocoke affects the properties of corresponding laboratory anodes. Also, an anode without any biocoke was fabricated as a standard for comparison with those made with the addition of biocoke. Tests were carried out on green anodes, and the core samples taken from them were characterized in green state and after baking according to the appropriate standards. Experimental results show that the replacement of 3% of petroleum coke by biocoke in the fine fraction results in anodes with properties similar to those of the standard anodes