Comparison of the yields and structure of fuels derived from freshwater algae (torbanite) and marine algae (El-Lajjun oil shale)

► A high-sulfur Jordanian oil shale is much more reactive than a low-sulfur algal coal, torbanite. ► The reactivity of the materials is similar with either hydrogen or nitrogen as the reaction medium. ► The asphaltene from the Jordanian oil shale is readily converted to oil in the relatively low temperature range, 350-390 °C. ► The oils and asphaltenes from both materials have a high H/C atomic ratio.