Petroleum needle cokes were processed by air-milling and heat treatment at three temperatures, 1800, 2100 and 2350 degrees C, to produce a final average particle size of 10 mu m. The effects of air-milling (before and after heat treatment) on the physical and microstructural properties of the petroleum coke particles were examined, The results obtained for electrochemical lithium intercalation/de-intercalation in 0.5 M LiN(CF3SO2)(2)/EC:DMC electrolyte using these petroleum cokes after the different processing conditions are reported.