Characterization of Carbon Anode Materials by Image Analysis

Abstract

Carbon anodes are made of calcined petroleum coke, recycled carbon materials (butts and anodes), and coal tar pitch. The pitch and coke properties strongly influence the anode quality. High-quality anodes help reduce the energy consumption and environmental emissions during the electrolysis. Methods have been developed to characterize the structural aspects of green and baked anodes, coke-pitch and biocoke-pitch samples from the sessile-drop wettability tests as well as the solid particles of various pitches. These methods are based on the analysis of the images obtained by the optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Such data help determine the possible impact on anode quality. Biocokes could serve as alternate raw materials for the partial replacement of petroleum coke, and biocoke samples were prepared from wood by calcination at high temperatures. The wetting of biocokes by pitch was compared with that of petroleum coke. This article presents the results of the characterization work.