OXIDATION BEHAVIOR OF HEAVY PETROLEUM-PRODUCTS AND KEROGENES

The oxidation behavior of heavy residues from petroleum distillation, kerogenes from oil shales; and pure model substances were investigated by applying thermoanalytical methods. Thermogravimetry has been performed in a dynamic test with a programmed heating rates as well as in an isothermal test at different temperature levels. At higher isothermal temperature levels dealing with very fast heating rates, no difference in the behavior is observed when using air or an inert gas. The kinetics of the oxidation process have been investigated using DSC according to ASTM E 698-79. Multicomponent systems like heavy residues show up to four oxidation peaks which shows similarity to pure model substances. The last oxidation peak show frequently an activation energy in the range of elemental carbon.