WHAT IS PETROLEUM COKE
Petroleum coke is made during the oil refining process. After gasoline, jet fuel and lubricating oils are manufactured from crude oil, the remaining material goes through additional processing called coking. Coking is the use of heat to crack or break down large hydrocarbon molecules to produce "fuel grade" petroleum coke, a highly stable, solid fuel. Petroleum coke is a complex mixture of mostly elemental carbon with inorganic and organic compounds.
Petroleum coke is not considered hazardous; it has a low potential to adversely affect human health.* Petroleum coke has not been found to be a carcinogen, nor has it been found to adversely affect developmental or reproductive systems. Possible effects are generally limited to the respiratory system. These same effects are commonly associated with exposures to general dust particles and are not directly attributed to petroleum coke.
Petroleum coke is highly stable. Since first produced in the U.S. in the 1930s, petroleum coke has been safely transported by ocean freight, barges, rail and truck to U.S. and international locations as permitted and governed by a wide range of federal and state environmental and safety regulations.
KCBX always strives to be a good neighbor. KCBX has safely handled bulk products like salt, clay, coal and petroleum coke in Chicago for more than 25 years. KCBX has a long history of working cooperatively with the EPA and the IEPA. The company puts a priority on regulatory compliance and managing operations in a manner that protects the health and safety of employees, the community and the environment. Honored with the Good Neighbor award from the Southeast Environmental Task Force in 2001 and 2005, we are committed to continuing this level of corporate citizenship and community care at our South facility.
USES OF PETROLEUM COKE
Petroleum coke fuels U.S. industry. Calcined petroleum coke is the larger domestic market segment. It is a critical ingredient in the manufacturing of aluminum as well as steel, paper, brick, glass, titanium dioxide (a pigment or whitener used in everyday consumer items) and other industrial products.
HOW THE WORLD USES PETROLEUM COKE
Source: Petroleum Coke Fact Sheet, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
