Multistage alkaline permanganate degradation of a type-III kerogen

Abstract

In order to obtain evidence on the relationship between kerogen structural types and the quantity and nature of their oxidation products, the products of a multistage (13 step) alkaline permanganate degradation of type-III kerogen from a sample of the Mannville shale, Canada, have been studied in detail. High yield of oxidation products was obtained, 81.89% based on original kerogen: 0.61% neutrals and bases, 4.82% of ether-soluble acids, and 76.46% of precipitated ether-insoluble acids. The ether-soluble acids and the soluble acids produced by further controlled permanganate degradation of precipitated acids were found to consist of different mono- and polycarboxylic, partly alkyl-substituted, aromatic acids as major oxidation products (over 90%). Saturated unbranched mono- and dicarboxylic acids were found in small concentrations. In this way a typical aromatic structure of type-III kerogen was confirmed. The structure of the examined kerogen is probably largely alkyl-substituted and cross-linked by relatively short chains or bridges.