To gain information on the chemical constitution of kerogen and the mechanism of its decomposition to shale oil, under conditions of minimum cracking of the resulting fragments, finely ground shale was subjected to thermal solution at 200° C. and autogenous pressure, in the presence of selected associating and nonassociating solvents. Total yield of product oils was found to be a function of the molecular volume of the solvent. Their carbon-hydrogen ratio and the percentage of original organic nitrogen and sulfur solubilized were found to be functions of the internal pressure of the solvent and its associating characteristics. The carbon-hydrogen ratio of the product oils was lower in almost all cases than that of Fischer assay shale oil. Nitrogen and sulfur contents were considerably less than that of pure kerogen or of an average assay oil. It is postulated that two forms of kerogen exist.
MONG the sources now under investigation in the United
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