Investigation of parameters toward development of an empirical model for the pyrolysis of black oil-shale

• Published in: Petroleum science and technology Vol. 39; no. 19-20; pp. 826 - 842
• Main Authors: Abdelghani, Emad A. M, Rajan, Krishna Prasad, Noaman, Abdelaziz A., Ali, Ibrahim H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 18-10-2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Empirical model; Kerogen; Oil shale; particle size; Pyrolysis; thermogravimetry
• ISSN: 1091-6466; 1532-2459
• DOI: 10.1080/10916466.2021.1928702

The technological pathway to extract fuels from oil shale is still in a stage of development. The present study is an attempt to examine the factors affecting the pyrolysis of oil- shale of Quseir-Safaga in Egypt. Investigations were carried out on samples of different particle sizes using a thermo gravimetric technique at different temperatures. The process is summarized as an empirical formula in terms of temperature, time, and particle size. The model showed a good agreement between the calculated and measured weight losses. The topographic evaluations revealed the kerogen layers, which are subsequently released after subjecting the oil-shale to pyrolysis.
Highlights
Oil-shale samples exhibited a maximum weight loss of 45%
Effect of particle size on pyrolysis was significant at 400 ∼ 800 °C
With increasing the particle size, the total gaseous yield was decreased
SEM figures showed the kerogen trapped in between inorganic layers
An empirical model for oil-shale gasification was proposed with ±9% error