Coal and Coke

Coal and Coke are both a type of fossil fuels. The difference between these two fuels is that coal is mostly carbon but coke contains mostly water and less than half the carbon content of coal. If you are still unsure about what the differences are, listed below in this article is an easy-to-understand summary of Coal and Coke.

Coal 

The most common form of fossil fuel is mined from the earth’s surface. It consists largely of carbon but also contains some sulphur, nitrogen, and other chemical compounds. Coal can be used to produce electricity and heat energy or it can be burned as a solid fuel to provide heating or power. 

Features of Coal

• Only found in Earth
• Easily mined, transportable, and abundant in nature make it one of the most widely traded fuels in the world
• A good carbon fuel because it’s rich in C02 leading to a high temperature when burning: 3,800°C (6,400°C with water vapour present) – but also known to produce a significant amount of ash that requires processing
• Some examples of coal can be found in the geologic record from rocks up to 350 million years old
• Coal is typically black or brown; it may be soft at room temperature
• Coal is an energy source used mainly for stationary heating and power generation

Coke

A mixture of carbon and hydrogen gas is made by heating a solution of limestone, chalk or dolomite, producing coke. Coke is used as a fuel, to make glass and bricks, and as a drying agent in the chemical industry. It can also be used to produce electricity and heat energy.

Features of Coke

• Can only be produced from coal
• The process of turning coal into coke is called coking and the temperatures are in excess of 600 degrees Celsius
• Carbon from within the coal is released as gas and left to cool down
• Coke can appear as a friable, porous mass that contains a large amount of graphite (carbon) and ash content
• Coke is dense, black and has high carbon content, lending to its high calorific value – about 6,000 BTU per pound

Difference between Coal and Coke

• Coal is a fossilized material found on the earth
• Coke is produced from coal through the coking process
• Coke can only be used as a fuel by making it into coke and injecting it into furnaces to give heat energy
• Coal can be used to produce heat energy in furnaces or to generate electricity through the burning of coal
• Coke has slightly more than half the carbon content of a standard bag of coal, but still contains some carbon and other minerals that make up the rock, such as sulphur and nitrogen
• Coke also has a higher amount of ash content than coal
• Coke is rich in carbon, with a calorific value of about 6,000 BTU per pound
• It gives off energy at temperatures exceeding 3,800 degrees Celsius when burning. Coal contains around 30–60% carbon but produces carbon dioxide and soot when it burns
• Coal’s calorific value is around 3,800–5,500 BTU per pound
• Coke is dense, black and has high carbon content, lending to its high calorific value – about 6,000 BTU per pound
• Coal is a good fuel as it produces a lot of heat when burned
• It has a calorific value of around 3,800–5,500 BTU per pound
• Coke contains a higher ash content than coal, which makes it less valuable as a consumer product. However, it is still a high-temperature fuel
• Coke can be used in blast furnaces for smelting and purifying iron ore
• Coke is more expensive than coal because it takes more of the raw material to produce the same amount of coke
• Coke has been used as an ingredient in cigarettes to add flavour and nicotine to the tobacco blend
• It has also been used in armour plating and military weapons like grenades
• Coke is produced by heating a solution of limestone or other carbonate-bearing materials at temperatures above 600 degrees Celsius (1,112 degrees Fahrenheit)

Conclusion

The difference between coal and coke is defined above for you to easily find out what each fuel contains and the differences in their properties. Both fuels are derived from the same material but processed differently before being used to generate energy or heat energy during combustion. There are other options for fuels such as natural gas (methane), oil (petroleum), biomass (wood), nuclear power etc.