Title: Preliminary study of the organic matter of Colorado oil shale
Abstract: Samples of air-dried oil shale from Grand Valley (Colo.) were extracted with carbon disulfide. The shale residue was then heated at 300/sup 0/C for 4 hours followed by extraction with carbon disulfide to remove soluble material. This process was repeated a number of times. After the first two heating periods, the temperature was raised to 325/sup 0/C, and for the seventh period the temperature was increased to 350/sup 0/C. After 16 heating periods, when no further bitumen was formed, the temperature was raised to 375/sup 0/ and 400/sup 0/C for two additional periods. The final residue was slowly distilled; and the water, gas, spent shale, and oil were determined. A comparable air-dried, raw-shale sample was distilled, and analyses of the products were determined for comparison. Bitumens formed at 300, 325, and 350/sup 0/C were combined in proportions based on percent yield and were distilled to dryness. The series of treatments resulted in a gradual but definite change in the shale. The shale gradually darkened upon heating, and the final residue was black and friable. Small quantities of gas were evolved and had a sulfurous odor. Water was continually evolved, but no evidence of volatile oil was observed. It was possiblemore » to convert all oil-forming constituents of the Colorado shale to a soluble product without producing volatile oil. Indications were that conversion of kerogen to a soluble product resembled slow ''cracking'' rather than depolymerization,and the soluble bitumen may be formed at temperatures as low as 200/sup 0/C (very slowly). These results disagree with conclusions by McKee and Lyder that soluble bitumen is formed at a definite temperature between 400/sup 0/ and 410/sup 0/C. Within certain limits, the amount of bitumen produced varied almost directly with the time of heating.« less
Publication Year: 1922
Publication Date: 1922-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 11
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