Pyrolysis Characteristics of Oil Shale of Six Density Sections

In this paper, Huadian oil shale was divided into six density sections through the use of a float-sink method. By utilizing thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) etc. analytic methods, a study was conducted of industrial and elementary analysis, pyrolysis characteristics, kinetic property of oil shale of different densities. The results of the proximate and ultimate analysis show that with an increase in density of oil shale, an increase of ash content in oil shale, fixed carbon content, a decrease of volatile, element hydrogen, organic carbon and nitrogen content. The main minerals of oil shale are quartz, clay and calcite. The pyrolysis characteristics of oil shale of different densities are various, which due to the distinctive of the organic matter and mineral matter. The pyrolysis curves of oil shale of six densities indicate that oil shale in the range 1.50∼1.60 g/cm3 assumes a most intense pyrolysis and the maximum decomposition rate in the low temperature step. The weight loss of six density fractions becomes ever weaker with an increase of density.