Metallurgical Coke
Oxbow purchases, screens and distributes more than a million tons of metallurgical coke (metcoke) annually. Oxbow distributes metcoke sourced from China, Colombia, Europe and the United States to companies throughout Asia, the Americas and Europe.
What is Metallurgical Coke?
Metcoke is made from low ash, low sulfur bituminous coal, with special coking properties. It is inserted into ovens and heated to 1000 ˚F to fuse fixed carbon and inherent ash and drive off most of the volatile matter. The final product is a nearly pure carbon source with sizes ranging from basketballs (foundry coke) to a fine powder (coke breeze).
Processing
Metallurgical coal is used in the production and purification of metcoke. It is during the heating process that the unstable components are released. The final product is a non-melting, solid, stable carbon. However, the "ash" elements, which were part of the original bituminous coal, remain encapsulated in the resultant metcoke. One attribute of metcoke is its ability to burn while producing little or no smoke. Oxbow obtains high quality metcoke from China, Colombia, the United States and various European countries.
End Uses
Metcoke is used in products where a high quality, tough, resilient carbon is required. Metcoke, limestone and iron ore are mixed together in high temperature furnaces where extreme heat causes the chemical properties to bond, forming iron and steel. More than 95 percent of the metcoke produced is used in the iron and steel industries.