ABSTRACT
To achieve high productivity, the blast furnace requires high quality coke. The coking properties of coke are directly related to the coke rate. The higher the coking properties, the lower the cost per tone of hot metal (pig iron) produced. Analysis of available data on Nigeria coals indicates that Lafia coal is slightly coking. In order to enhance its (Lafia coal) properties, effect of locally available bitumen (Ondo) was investigated. Proximate analysis, Free swelling index, Gray king, Dilatometry, Shatter and abradability tests were carried out on Lafia coal - Ondo bitumen blends. The blend ratio of 70 -30% Lafia coal - Ondo bitumen shows some significant improvement on the coking properties of Lafia coal. The Test confirms a reduction of high ash content of Lafia coal from 17.82% to 8.21%, free swelling index from Â� to 3 , Gray - king coke value from B to F for Lafia coal upon the addition of bitumen. From the research, a ratio of 70- 30% of Lafia coal and Ondo bitumen of 250μm sieve showed that the coking properties were significantly enhanced.