Alfred Ekstrom

Pyrolysis of model compounds on spent oil shales, minerals and charcoal: Implications for shale oil composition

Abstract Aliphatic compounds (alkanes, alkenes, alkanoic acids, ketones, alcohols and amines) were passed through beds of spent oil shales (Condor brown, Condor carbonaceous, Julia Creek), minerals (quartz, calcite, K-feldspar, pyrite, kaolinite) and charcoal at temperatures of 300–600 °C and the products were analysed by g.c.m.s. All the materials catalysed isomerization, aromatization and cracking to varying degrees: non-clay minerals

Effect of Pressure on the Oxidative Coupling Reaction of Methane

Abstract Increasing the pressure in the oxidative coupling reaction of methane significantly increases the importance of the blank or uncatalysed reaction. The effect is so large that, at 0.4–0.6 MPa and low gas velocities, the only significant effect of the catalyst is to alter the CO/CO 2 ratio in the product stream. The importance of the blank reaction can be reduced by using high linear velocities, but increasing pressure under these conditions still depresses the C 2+ selectivity of the catalysts.

Chemical and pyrolysis characteristics of two types of oil shale from the Condor deposit in Queensland, Australia

Abstract The Condor oil shale deposit contains two major seams: a brown seam of almost pure lamosite origin and a black, or carbonaceous, seam of mixed lignite—lamosite origin. These differences in origin of the organic matter in the shale are reflected in their pyrolysis characteristics and particularly in the chemical composition of the oil retorted from them. The brown shale was found to have oil and gas evolution profiles similar to those reported for shales from the Green River (Colorado) deposit and to give a highly aliphatic oil containing vol .% of phenols. In contrast, the carbonaceous shale showed gas and oil evolution profiles resembling those of coal, and gave an oil high (≈ 10–15 vol . %) in phenols typical of coal pyrolysis products.

The pyrolysis kinetics of some Australian oil shales

Abstract The kinetics of hydrocarbon evolution from the pyrolysis of Rundle and Nagoorin shales can be described by two simultaneous first order rate laws whose relative contributions depend on the pyrolysis temperature. At low temperatures, a relatively rapid release of low molecular weight products occurs followed by a slower formation of higher molecular weight products. At high temperatures, secondary cracking reactions, resulting in the formation of low molecular weight aromatics, contribute to the total hydrocarbon release, and oil evaporation is kinetically important. The major constituents of the oil (alkanes, alkenes, aromatics) are formed at significantly different rates and according to different rate laws. The pyrolysis of Condor shale shows a marked particle size dependence, which cannot be described by any simple kinetic model, and is probably dominated by mass transfer effects.

Origin of the low limits in the higher hydrocarbon yields in the oxidative coupling reaction of methane

Abstract A constant C 2+ concentration is reached in the catalysed oxidative coupling of methane when the rate of C 2+ formation from CH 4 is equal to its rate of conversion to CO x .

Methane adsorption on a working samarium oxide catalyst and its role in hydrocarbon formation during high temperature partial oxidation

Although methane is strongly adsorbed on a samarium oxide catalyst at 700 °C, the adsorbed form does not participate directly in the formation of the hydrocarbon products of the partial oxidation reaction.