Oil shale is a strategically important hydrocarbon reserve for several countries. Its insoluble organic matter (kerogen), is dispersed within an inorganic mineral matrix whose nature varies widely.  It is important to be able to distinguish the inherent reactivity of the kerogen itself, from any catalytic interferences proffered by the inorganic matrix. Studies on isolated kerogen are necessary to address this issue.<br/>Thus, kerogens of marine shales from both Jordan and Australia were isolated using (a) the commonly applied HCl-HF method and (b) a newer strong alkali approach, termed the NaOH-HCl method. The latter method avoids the need to use HF, whose use is severely restricted in some jurisdictions. With the NaOH-HCl method, kerogen yields deteriorated unless air was excluded. Analytical comparisons by multiple techniques showed that the structure of the different kerogens were broadly similar, though small differences in Fe and S concentrations were apparent.<br/>The reactivities of the isolated kerogens were then compared with each other and with the corresponding untreated shales. In autoclave reactions, similar hydrocarbon yields (on a dry mineral matter free basis) and similar distributions of hydrocarbon products were obtained in most cases.  Yields of the asphaltol fraction (dichloromethane insoluble, THF soluble) were somewhat higher for kerogens prepared using NaOH-HCl kerogens.  Reactions in a flow through system also gave similar overall conversion for the kerogens and their untreated shales, though the yields of condensates for the Julia Creek shale were significantly lower for the oil shales than for the kerogens.

Isolation and reactivity of kerogen prepared by various methods

2019 Fall National Meeting

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