Thermogravimetry and infrared spectroscopy Of Moroccan oil shales in an oxidative Dynamic atmosphere

Abstract

Thermogravimetric analyses were carried out on raw Timahdit (Morocco) oil shales and its demineralisation products in an oxidative atmosphere. The kerogen was isolated by successive HCl, HF and float-sink separation treatments, raw shale and each product of every demineralisation step were oxidised in a thermal analyser system in dynamic air atmosphere. Solid-state FTIR spectroscopy was issued to follow the oxidation reactions and thermochemical changes occured in the organics. TG and DTG oxidative profiles of Timahdit oil shale indicated that the combustion of the organics occurred in two separate phases. The first oxidation stage involves the combustion of aliphatic moieties and carbonyl groups while the second one is related to the oxidation of aromatic structures and carboxylic groups.