Parallel micropetrographic and chemical studies of the solid degradation products from stepwise alkaline permanganate oxidation of a kerogen concentrate

The usefulness of parallel micropetrographic and chemical investigations to illustrate the nature of kerogen is demonstrated from data obtained in the study of the Aleksinac shale (Yugoslavia). To obtain more information about the chemical nature of kerogen, the stepwise oxidation with alkaline permanganate reported earlier has been modified and supplemented with micropetrographic and chemical investigations of partially degraded kerogen concentrates isolated from each degradation step. Five different types of particles were observed in kerogen concentrates. The results both of micropetrographic and of chemical investigations indicate a heterogeneity of the Aleksinac shale kerogen and a different reactivity of the particles observed.