Vacuum-assisted and alkali roasting for desulfurization of petroleum coke

A new vacuum-assisted alkali roasting desulfurization technology for petroleum coke is presented in this article. Deep desulfurization experiments were carried out on high-sulfur petroleum coke under argon and vacuum conditions. The results showed that vacuum was more favorable for the pyrolysis of organic sulfur in petroleum coke at high temperatures (>1400 °C) compared with argon. Vacuum-assisted alkali roasting desulfurization can reduced the sulfur content of petroleum coke to 0.18%, and the desulfurization rate can reached 98.54% at 1600 °C. The mechanism of sulfur removal in petroleum coke was preliminarily explored by Gauss, Multiwfn and VMD software, and the experimental samples were analyzed by Carbon–Sulfur Analyzer, XPS and SEM. The experimental results strongly verify the correctness of the simulation calculation. It is difficult to remove thiophene and sulfone in petroleum coke, but Vacuum-assisted alkali roasting can overcome this point, and greatly improve the desulfurization rate of petroleum coke. • A new vacuum-assisted alkali roasting desulfurization of petroleum coke is presented. • Deep desulfurization experiments were studied under argon and vacuum conditions. • Vacuum was more favorable for the pyrolysis of organic sulfur compared with argon.