Kinetics of pyrolysis of Moroccan oil shale by thermogravimetry

Abstract

The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of Moroccan oil shale have been studied by isothermal and nonisothermal thermogravimetry (TG). The nonisothermal weight loss data have been analyzed by using three models, while the isothermal TG data have been correlated by using the integral method of kinetic analysis. The combined use of nonisothermal and isothermal TG measurements has shown that the thermal decomposition of Moroccan oil shale involves two consecutive reactions with bitumen as an intermediate. The pyrolysis rates of Moroccan shale are compared with those of Colorado and Jordan shale.