Mile 145.6 - LBD Rain CII Gramercy Calciner

145.6 LBD Rain CII Gramercy Calciner

Commissioned in 1972 by Kaiser Aluminum; the plant was built to calcine (heat in rotary kilns) petroleum coke in order to produce carbon that is made into aluminum smelter anodes (electrodes). It has one rotary kiln with 230,000 ton/yr capacity. The facility can store 150,000 tons of “green” petroleum coke. The facility produces 210,000 pounds of steam per hour and the excess steam is sent to Noranda Alumina. Petroleum coke is the solid granular stuff that is leftover from refining crude oil. This “green” coke is mostly carbon but still has enough leftover stuff in it that it needs to be heated in a rotary kiln (a calciner) to “burn off” all the non-carbon material. If the facility is operating you will see smoke from the burning impurities pouring out of the stacks. Rain CII Gramercy Calciner burned off 523,239 pounds of toxins into the air, and dumped 274 pounds into the river. (Paul Orr)