Characterization and classification of Tarfaya kerogen (South Morocco) based on its oxidation products

A 23-step alkaline potassium permanganate degradation of the kerogen from Moroccan Tarfaya oil shale was carried out, yielding oxidation products in 81.1 wt% yield. Detailed GC and GC-MS analyses of acid oxidation products and products of further controlled potassium permanganate degradation of high-molecular weight acids allowed quantitative estimation of the contribution of the various types of products and comparison with other kerogens studied following the same procedure. ion products are dominantly aliphatic (56.6 wt% of total oxidation products) and aromatic (36.3 wt%) in confirmation of NMR results. Detailed analysis of each kind of aliphatic and aromatic acids indicates that the network is formed by aliphatic (rather short) cross-linked chains with inserted aromatic structures. The basic network is substantially substituted by aromatic moieties and alkyl chains acting as monosubstituents.