MANUFACTURE OF ACICULAR COKE

PURPOSE:To obtain acicular coke directly and economically from coal having high ash content, without using the process of solvent purification, etc., by maintaining the coal in a high-pressure hydrogen gas atmosphere within a specific temperature range, and carbonizing the formed carbon precursor. CONSTITUTION:An autoclave, etc. made of heat-resistant steel is charged with coal and hydrogen gas, and the coal is heated in the high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere at 350-500 deg.C for >=1hr and at the final temperature of 500 deg.C. The heat-treated coal is cooled, the pressure in the autoclave is reduced to atmospheric pressure, and the autoclave is opened to obtain carbon precursor. The precursor is converted to the objective acicular coke by heating in a separate retort, etc. at about 1,000 deg.C followed by cooling. The coal is preferably bituminous coal having an ash content of =50kg/cm .