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Albertan coal has been used to produce extracts as precursor for production of anode coke. Coal extractability was studied using digestion with Tetralin in a 500 ml reactor. Different operating conditions were tried and optimum conditions were chosen for runs with coal-derived solvents. Extracts from runs with coal-derived solvents and their hydrotreated versions were distilled and heat treated to produce pitches as coke precursors. Coking experiments were performed using a molten salt bath furnace. Coal, solvents, pitches and cokes were characterized to study the effects of process chemistry on coke anisotropy. Coke anisotropy was studied using image analysis of polarized light optical micrographs and x-ray diffraction. Aromaticity of the pitch was found to be the key parameter controlling coke anisotropy. Solvent was found to be the most important factor contributing to pitch aromaticity. Heat treated products of high aromaticity yield the highest coke conversion and anisotropy. / Chemical Engineering