Applied Coal Petrology

Chapter 7. Coal Carbonization

7.1. Introduction

Metallurgical coke, along with iron ore (iron oxides) and limestone, is layered into a blast furnace to convert the iron ore to metallic iron. The coke, which is mostly carbon, reacts with the blast air to produce carbon monoxide, which in turn reacts with the iron oxide to produce carbon dioxide and metallic iron. In the reaction zone of the blast furnace, where the iron oxide is converted to gas and liquid iron and the limestone fluxing agent is melted, the coke is the only solid material and is thus required to support the burden in the furnace and maintain permeability for the blast air.

Metallurgical coke is usually manufactured in a coke oven that is typically 6 meters high, 15 meters deep, ...