THE REACTION OF WESTERN U.S. OIL SHALE KEROGEN WITH PHENOL

ABSTRACT Phenol reacts with Western U.S. oil shale kerogen. The acid–catalyzed reaction gives crude products which incorporate large amounts of phenol. The toluene soluble portion of the crude products was shown by 1H, 13C-NMR, FIMS, and LVHR/mass spectroscopy to consist mainly of condensed phenols. However, about 15% of the carbon in this fraction is derived from kerogen fragments. These results contrast markedly with those found for other systems reacting under similar conditions. To further explore the scope of this reaction, model compounds were allowed to react with acidified phenol. Hydrocarbons were unreactive. Certain aryl ethers and substituted phenols were very reactive. Mineral matter was also found to catalyze the reaction of phenol with the toluenesu l fonic acid catalyst. These data indicate that substituted phenols and/or aryl ethers are probably important cross-linking centers for kerogen. Long straight chain aliphatic groups appear to also be present in kerogen.