A Critical Review of Extraction Methods for Vanadium from Petcoke Ash

Abstract

Petcoke is a solid carbon-rich residue produced during petroleum refining. Petcoke mineral matter is rich in vanadium that, when alloyed with other metals, can significantly improve its properties. Vanadium extraction from steel slags is well studied, while extraction from secondary sources such as petcoke is not well understood. Vanadium is one of the 50 critical minerals identified by the United States Department of Interior. Considering the annual production of petcoke, it is a valuable secondary source of vanadium, especially in places with no steel production. This review paper critically examines the compositional differences between steel and petcoke slags and the various extraction methods that apply to vanadium production, particularly from petcoke, considering the environmental issues associated with each technique. Information on the characterization of US petcoke is also included to identify specific extraction methods for vanadium.