| Abstract: | A 33 step alkaline permanganate degradation of the kerogen from Moroccan Timahdit oil shale (M-Zone) was carried out. A very high total yield of oxidation products was obtained (95.4% based on original kerogen). Detailed GC-MS analyses of ether-soluble acids, acids isolated from aqueous solutions and soluble products of further controlled permanganate dedradation of precipitated, ether-insoluble acids, served as a basis for the quantitative estimation of the participation of various types of products and for comparison with other kerogens. The most interesting finding was the observed uniquely high yield of aromatic oxidation products from an intermediate type I–II kerogen. Taking into account the almost equally dominant aliphatic (50.2%) and aromatic (43.2%) nature of the acidic oxidation products, the existence of an aliphatic cross-linked nucleus mixed with cross-linked aromatic units in the Timahdit shale kerogen is postulated. Uniform distribution of oxidation products throughout the degradation suggested a similar reactivity of the various kerogen constituents towards alkaline permanganate. |
