Pyrolysis of Huadian oil shale under catalysis of shale ash

Abstract

The influence of shale ash on the pyrolysis of Huadian oil shale was investigated. It was found that under the catalysis of shale ash, aliphatics in shale oil were partially converted to aromatics, and the long- chain aliphatics were converted to shorter ones. This effect could be improved by increased content of shale ash or by augmented temperature. Beyond the Diels-Alder reaction for the formation of aromatics, a novel reaction route of cyclization of aliphatics followed by dehydrogenation to aromatics was proposed. The component of CaO in shale ash plays an important role to the general performance of shale ash.