Study of Nitrogen Compound Migration during the Pyrolysis of Longkou Oil Shale with Thermal Bitumen as the Intermediate

Abstract

Oil shale is an unconventional energy resource with high nitrogen content. In this study, XPS, GC–MS and ESI FT-ICR MS were carried out to investigate the nitrogen compound migration during pyrolysis, with thermal bitumen as the intermediate. The results showed that the yield of thermal bitumen was highest when the reaction temperature was 380 °C. In the process of pyrolysis, amines and some nitrides generate ammonia gas due to the hydrogen transfer process, or they generate low-grade amines, which subsequently dissolve in pyrolysis water due to bond breakage during the pyrolysis process. As determined by GC–MS analyses, the basic components in shale oil are mainly quinoline compounds. Benzocarbazole and dibenzocarbazole compounds, such as C1-benzocarbazoles, C2-benzocarbazoles and C3-benzocarbazoles, were detected via ESI FT-ICR MS in thermal bitumen.