Abstract: A rapid method for the determination of trace elements in petroleum coke was established by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (ED-XRF). The influence of sample preparation method, powder and pressed powder, matrix and quantitative curve fitting on the test results was investigated. The high content of sulfur in petroleum coke was the greatest factor in matrix interference. Both the basic parameter method and the α-empirical coefficient method could be used to correct matrix, so that the content of S, Fe, Ni, V, Ca in petroleum coke could be determined accurately within 10 minutes. This method had good linear independence for the quantitative curves of each element in the corresponding test range, and the determination coefficient R² was greater than 0.99. The quantification limit of S was 0.040%，and the quantification limits of Fe, Ni, V, Ca were 5.4, 1.4, 2.1, 2.8 μg/g, respectively.

Key words: petroleum coke, trace element, energy dispersive, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, matrix correction