Improvement of kerogen structural interpretations based on oxidation products isolated from aqueous solutions

Abstract

A detailed investigation of kerogen oxidation products remaining in aqueous solutions after the usual isolation of degradation products by extraction with ether or precipitation, was carried out for the first time in kerogen structural studies. Three shale samples were investigated: Green River shale (type I kerogen), Toarcian shale, Paris Basin (type II), and Mannville shale, Canada (type III). The yields of acids from aqueous solutions were noticeable: 12.98, 15.32 and 22.32%, respectively, based on initial kerogens. Qualitative and quantitative capillary GC/MS analysis showed that the ratios of different kinds of identified acids depended much on the type of precursor kerogen. Some of the acids identified in aqueous solutions have not been found earlier among the degradation products of the same kerogen samples, or were obtained in different ranges and yields. Consequently, slight modifications were suggested of the image on the nature of various types of kerogens based on examination of ether-soluble acids only. Namely, slightly higher proportions of aromatic and alkane-polycarboxylic acids in the total oxidation products of both type I and type II kerogens indicated larger participation of aromatic and alicyclic and/or heterocyclic structures in these two kerogens. On the other hand, for type III Mannville shale kerogen, a somewhat larger share of aliphatic type structures was demonstrated.