Surface and subsurface oil shale (OS) rocks in Jordan have potential economic value for the country and still unutilized. This research paper focuses on central and southern OS deposits in Jordan. Brief characterization of four OS deposits is presented. Size distribution test and elemental analysis were performed. Shale oil was extracted via three solvation methods: Soxhlet extraction, extraction via mixing and stirring, and lastly super-critical fluid extraction. Major shale oil fractions were obtained from extract fractionation on chromatographic column. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique was used to study qualitatively the fractional composition of OS extract. Results show that all studied OS deposits have quite similar trend in their particle size distribution and their elemental composition. These OS deposits are found to be varying in their solvation behavior, fractional yield, and shale oil composition. Highest yield is obtained from polar solvents. The OS extraction via solvation processes is promising under certain extraction conditions such as super-critical conditions. The solvation variability of Jordanian OS indicates that different extraction techniques suit different OS deposits. Such variability should be considered in any future extraction options.
References
[1]
Abed, A.M. (2000) The Geology of Jordan and Its Environment and Water. Publication of the Jordanian Geologists Association, Amman, Jordan. (In Arabic)
[2]
Dyni, J.R. (2005) Geology and Resources of Some World Oil-Shale Deposits. Scientific Investigations Report 5294, USGS.
[3]
Alnawafleh, H.M. (2007) Geological Factors Controlling the Variability of Maastrichtian Bituminous Rocks in Jordan. PhD Thesis, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
[4]
Alnawafleh, H.M., Fraige, F.Y., Al-khatib, L.A. and Dweirj, M.K. (2015) Jordanian Oil Shales: Variability, Processing Technologies, and Utilization Options. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 4, 52-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150404.11
[5]
Alali, J. (2006) Jordan Oil Shale, Availability, Distribution, and Investment Opportunity. The NRA, Jordan, No. rtos-A117.
[6]
Bsieso, M.S. (2006) Jordan’s Experience in Oil Shale Studies Employing Different Technology. Proceedings of the 26th Oil Shale Symposium, Golden, CO, 16-20 October 2006, 20 p.
[7]
Jaber, J.O., Probert, S.D. and Williams. P.T. (1999) Evaluation of Oil Yield from Jordanian Oil Shales. Energy, 24, 761-781.
[8]
Jaber, J.O. and Probert, S.D. (1999) Pyrolysis and Gasification Kinetics of Jordanian Oil Shale. Applied Energy, 63, 269-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0306-2619(99)00033-1
[9]
Tamimi, A. and Uysal, B. (1990) Parametric Investigation of Oil-Shale Extraction With Organic Solvents. Separation Science and Technology, 25, 1151-1159.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01496399008051844
[10]
Olukcu, N., Yanik, J., Saglam, M., Yuksel, M. and Karaduman, M. (1999) Solvent Effect on the Extraction of Beypazari Oil Shale. Energy Fuels, 13, 895-902.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef9802678
Koel, M., Ljovin, S., Hollis, K. and Rubin, J. (2001) Using Neoteric Solvents in Oil Shale Studies. Pure Applied Chemestry, 73, 153-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200173010153
[13]
Torrente, M.C. and Galan, M.A. (2011) Extraction of Kerogen from Oil Shale (Puertollano, Spain) with Supercritical Toluene and Methanol Mixtures. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 50, 1730-1738. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie1004509
[14]
Shawaqfeh, A. and Al-Harahsheh, A. (2004) Solvation of Jordanian Oil Shale Using Different Organic Solvents by Continuous Contact Mixing. Energy Sources, 26, 1321-1330.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00908310490442024
[15]
Anabtawi, M. and Uysal, B. (2009) Extraction of El-Lajjun Oil Shale. Separation Science and Technology, 30, 3363-3373.
[16]
Matouq, M., Koda, S., Maricela, M., Alayed, O. and Tagawa, T. (2009) Solvent Extraction of Bitumen from Jordan Oil Shale Assisted by Low Frequency Ultrasound. Journal of the Japan Petroleum Institute, 52, 265-269. http://dx.doi.org/10.1627/jpi.52.265
[17]
Allawzi, M.A., Awni Al-Otoom, A., Allaboun, H., Ajlouni, A. and Nseirat, F. (2011) CO2 Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Jordanian Oil Shale Utilizing Different Co-Solvents. Fuel Processing Technology, 92, 2016-2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2011.06.001
[18]
Alnawafleh, H.M. and Fraige, F.Y. (2015a) Shale Oil Solvent Extraction of Central Jordan El-Lajjun Oil Shale. Journal of Analytical Sciences, Methods and Instrumentation, 5, 35-43.
[19]
G-Hourcade, M.L., Torrente, C. and Galán, M.á. (2007) Study of the Solubility of Kerogen from Oil Shales in Puertollano, Spain, in Supercritical Toluene and Methanol. Fuel, 86, 698- 705.
[20]
Ebrahiem, E.I. (2002) An Investigation on Solvent Extraction of Oil from Egyptian Oil- Shale. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 41, 579-586.
[21]
Abourriche, A., Oumam, M., Hannache, H., Adil, A., Pailler, R., Naslain, R., M. Birot, M. and Pillot, J. (2009) Effect of Toluene Proportion on the Yield and Composition of Oils Obtained by Supercritical Extraction of Moroccan Oil Shale. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 51, 24-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2009.07.003
[22]
Alnawafleh, H.M. and Fraige, F.Y. (2013) Characterization of South and Central Jordan Oil Shales. European Journal of Scientific Research, 102, 589-595.
[23]
Alnawafleh, H.M. and Fraige, F.Y. (2015b) Analysis of Selected Oil Shale Samples from El-Lajjun, Central Jordan. Geomaterials, 5, 77-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/gm.2015.53008
[24]
Al-Alla, R.A. and Nassef, E. (2015) Extraction of Oil from Egyptian Oil Shale. Journal pf Petroleum and Environmental Biotechnology, 6, 205.
[25]
Nassef, E., Soliman, A., Al-Alla R.A. and Eltaweel, Y. (2015) Experimental Study on Solvent Extraction of Quseir Oil Shale in Egypt. Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology, 5, 147-153. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jsemat.2015.53016
