Kerogen destruction and partial transfer of metals to shale oil: detection and quantification

Oil shale is pyrolyzed to investigate the transfer of selected metals (Fe, V, Ni, Mn, and Pb) to shale oil. Several heating rates are employed to study the transfer process during the heating of oil shale under a nitrogen environment. The migration or transfer of Fe, V, Ni, Mn, and Pb from oil shale to shale oil is investigated. These metals are redistributed between shale oil and spent shale. The transfers are studied as a function of heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min. Metals embedded in oil shale are found to be transferable to shale oil during pyrolysis. The Fe concentration levels in shale oil are 59.4, 35.69, 34.14, and 25.29 ppm at 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min, respectively. The transfer of Fe shows a decreasing trend with heating rate. The concentra-t-ions of As in shale oil are 10.09, 13.88, 12.2, and 11.04 ppm, showing a decreasing trend at 10, 15, and 20 °C/min. On the other hand, the percentage recovery of Fe is > 93.6% and < 109.3%, while that of As is > 79.3% and < 83.99%. The concentrations of Mn and Pb in shale oil are < 1 ppm. The concentration of Ni in shale oil is < 6.04 ppm at 10 °C/min, whereas it decreases to 3.14 ppm at 20 °C/min. The percentage recovery of Ni ranges from > 81.48 to < 84.13. Finally, low concentrations of V in shale oil are detected. These concentrations are 1.13, 1.45, 0.77, and 1.76 ppm at 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min, respectively. The percentage recovery of V is > 76.88% and < 86.31%.