Desulfurization of petroleum coke

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR DESULFURIZING PETROLEUM COKE BY HEAT SOAKING THE COKE AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 2500* TO 3000* F. INCLUDING THE STEPS OF PASSING THE COKE THROUGH A HEATING ZONE, A HEAT SOAKING ZONE, AND A COOLING ZONE, IN THE SAID COOLING ZONE CONTACTING HOT COKE FROM THE HEAT SOAKING ZONE WITH A FUEL GAS COMPRISING PRINCIPALLY METHANE, IN THE SAID HEAT SOAKING ZONE CONTATING COKE FROM THE SAID HEATING ZONE WITH THE SAID FUEL GAS FROM THE COOLING ZONE IN THE PRESENCE OF OXYGEN WHEREBY OXIDATION OF THE COKE IS MINIMIZED BY THE PREFERENTIAL COMBUSTION OF THE FUEL GAS PROVIDING TEMPERATURES OF 2500* TO 3000* F., AND MAINTAINING THE COKE IN THE HEAT SOAKING ZONE FOR A PERIOD SUFFICIENT TO DECOMPOSE SULFUR COMPOUNDS, AND IN THE HEATING ZONE CONTACTING COKE WITH HOT EFFLUENT GASES FROM THE HEAT SOAKING ZONE, SAID PROCESS FUTHER BEING CHARACTERIZED BY USE OF AN EXCESS OF FUEL GAS BEYOND THAT REQUIRED FOR COMBUSTION TO PROVIDE A HEAT TRANSFER MEDIUM BETWEEN SAID ZONES.