Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 89 (2010) 239–243 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jaap Heating rate effect on fractional yield and composition of oil retorted from El-lajjun oil shale Adnan Al-Harahsheh a,∗ , Omar Al-Ayed b , Moh’d Al-Harahsheh c , Rajab Abu-El-Halawah d a Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Al al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan b Dep. of Chemical Eng., Balqa Applied University, Amman 11134, Jordan c Faculty of Engineering, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an 71111, Jordan d Dept of Chemistry, Al al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan article info Article history: Received 16 February 2010 Accepted 16 August 2010 Available online 21 August 2010 Keywords: Heating rate Oil shale Fixed bed Pyrolysis Fractionation Chemical composition abstract Oil shale samples were pyrolysed at different heating rates. The effect of heating rate on fractional com- position of shale oil is investigated in 0.2–6 ◦ C min -1 range. It is found that increasing the heating rate increases the content of aliphatic of the liquid shale oil. Normal paraffins of (C 10 –C 32 ) are identified in aliphatic fraction. The maximum concentration of these paraffin is found to be 9.9 wt% at heating rate of 2.5 ◦ C min -1 . Hydrogen and sulfur contents of the produced shale oil increase with increasing the carbon weight percent. In the studied heating range 0.2–6 ◦ C min -1 , the H/C is not affected. Sulfur weight percent of liquid shale oil is not significantly affected by increasing the heating rate. Increasing the heating rate increases the content of aliphatic of the liquid oil shale and decreases the aromatic fraction. GC–MS analysis indicated presence of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons in paraffinic fraction. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Jordan is a country with limiting energy sources of oil and gas, but it has huge reserves of oil shale; which is estimated to be more than 50 billion tone of oil shale rock was found and located in the middle part of the country. The content of organic matter in Jordanian oil shale rock was estimated to be in the range 10–20% depending on the deposit’s location [1]. This huge reserve of energy sources makes Jordan as a promising place for utilization of oil shale as a source of energy. Study the fractional and chemical composition of shale oil is con- sidered as an important step in upgrading process and in evaluation of the potential use of this oil for different purposes and assist in selecting and/or deciding the appropriate technology requirement. The heterogeneity of oil shale in composition and origin makes it as an interesting material to study [2]. The organic matter of oil shale consists of kerogen and bitumen [3–5] in which, bitumen can be extracted by solvent extraction using different organic solvents. Extraction processes were characterized by low yield of organic matter containing in bitumen [6–8]. Campbell et al. [9] studied the rate of evolution of CH 4 ,H 2 , CO, CO 2 , and C 2 ,C 3 hydrocarbons during pyrolysis of Colorado ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +962 777383614. E-mail address: adnan@mutah.edu.jo (A. Al-Harahsheh). Oil Shale at linear heating rates varying from 0.5 to 4.0 ◦ C min -1 . More of hydrogen release was reported at lower heating rates. Methane formation and evolution initiated at temperature slightly lower than 350 ◦ C and reaching a maximum value at 445 ◦ C. Rate of methane release increased with decreasing heating rate. Ethane and ethene (C 2 ) production increased to a maximum value at 450 ◦ C and stopped at slightly higher than 550 ◦ C. C 3 (propane and propene) production is found to occur at 450 ◦ C and its formation is stopped at 525 ◦ C. Oil release profile is corresponding closely to that observed for C 1 and C 2 profiles. On the contrary, Nazzal [10] reported an increase hydrocarbon gases as heating rate is increased. On the other hand, Campbell et al. [11] have indicated that more liquid oil is collected with increasing heating rate. Fractional composition of extracted bitumen was studied and found to be aliphatic, aromatic and polar compounds such as sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen containing compounds [12–15]. Kerogen of oil shale is thermally cracked to produce lower molecular weight compounds of coke, oil and gas. The obtained oil by pyrolysis differs from normal crude petroleum and needs to be upgraded and hydro- treatment before sending it to refinery. The structure and composition of oil shale differs, depending upon origin of deposit and its location; as a result, the character- istic data of certain oil shale or deposit cannot be used to describe another source of oil shale. Since the organic matter does not distribute evenly within oil shale rocks and it assumes different chemical and physical properties depending on the geographical 0165-2370/$ – see front matter © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2010.08.009