Process for producing anode grade coke employing heavy crudes characterized by high metal and sulfur levels

A process for the production of anode grade coke from a hydrocarbon feed characterized by high levels of sulfur and metals comprising feeding a hydrocarbon feed to a hydrocracking reactor;

• hydrocracking said hydrocarbon feed in said reactor under the following conditions:
• pressure about between 1000 to 4000 psi, LHSV of about between 0.2 to 3.0 HR.sup.-1, hydrogen-crude ratio of about between 3,000 to 40,000 SCF/B and temperature of about between 420.degree. to 500.degree. C. wherein an effluent overhead is produced;
• feeding said effluent to a hot separator;
• treating said effluent in said hot separator wherein a light hydrocarbon stream and a slurry hydrocracked product residual are produced;
• feeding said slurry hydrocracked product residual to a separator;
• mixing a solvent with said hydrocracked residual in said separator;
• separating out the solids from said hydrocracked solvent rich residual so as to produce a clean upgraded hydrocracked solvent rich residual with low sulfur and metals content;
• and feeding said upgraded hydrocracked residual to a coking drum wherein said residual decomposes leaving a mass of anode grade coke.