Measurement of adsorption and cracking of hydrocarbons over processed oil shale particles

Abstract

A parallel reactor system was used to monitor adsorption, desorption and/or cracking of vapour-phase hydrocarbons over processed oil shale with short contact times at elevated temperatures. Hydrocarbons ranging from benzene to n-decane were passed across samples of pyrolysed, gasified and combusted shales at 300–650 C. The gasified shale exhibited the greatest adsorption capacity at low temperatures and the highest cracking activity at higher temperatures. Liquid products were analysed by g.c. and g.c.-m.s. in an effort to determine any significant differences in the cracking products over time or between substrates.