Nitrogen chemistry during oil shale pyrolysis

Conference · Wed Jan 10 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:7013600

Oh, Myongsook S.; Crawford, R. W.; Foster, K. G.; Alcaraz, A.

Real time evolution of ammonia (NH{sub 3}) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), two major nitrogen-containing volatiles evolved during oil shale pyrolysis, was measured by means of a mass spectrometer using chemical ionization and by infrared spectroscopy. While the on-line monitoring of NH{sub 3} in oil shale pyrolysis games was possible by both techniques, HCN measurements were only possible by IR. We studied one Green River Formation oil shale and one New Albany oil shale. The ammonia from the Green River oil shale showed one broad NH{sub 3} peak maximizing at a high temperature. For both oil shales, most NH{sub 3} evolves at temperatures above oil-evolving temperature. The important factors governing ammonia salts such as Buddingtonite in Green River oil shales, the distribution of nitrogen functional groups in kerogen, and the retorting conditions. The gas phase reactions, such as NH{sub 3} decomposition and HCN conversion reactions, also play an important role in the distribution of nitrogen volatiles, especially at high temperatures. Although pyrolysis studies of model compounds suggests the primary nitrogen product from kerogen pyrolysis to be HCN at high temperatures, we found only a trace amount of HCN at oil-evolving temperatures and none at high temperatures (T {gt} 600{degree}C). 24 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/FE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7013600
• Report Number(s): UCRL-102702; CONF-891167--4; ON: DE90007851
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040500* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Properties & Composition
AMMONIA
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CYANIDES
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GREEN RIVER FORMATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROCYANIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MASS SPECTROMETERS
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NITROGEN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
OIL SHALES
PYROLYSIS
SPECTROMETERS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
YIELDS