Oil shale is pyrolyzed to investigate the transfer of selected metals (Fe, V, Ni, Mn, and Pb) to shale oil. Several heating rates are employed to study the transfer process during the heating of oil shale under a nitrogen environment. The migration or transfer of Fe, V, Ni, Mn, and Pb from oil shale to shale oil is investigated. These metals are redistributed between shale oil and spent shale. The transfers are studied as a function of heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min. Metals embedded in oil shale are found to be transferable to shale oil during pyrolysis. The Fe concentration levels in shale oil are 59.4, 35.69, 34.14, and 25.29 ppm at 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min, respectively. The transfer of Fe shows a decreasing trend with heating rate. The concentra-t-ions of As in shale oil are 10.09, 13.88, 12.2, and 11.04 ppm, showing a decreasing trend at 10, 15, and 20 °C/min. On the other hand, the percentage recovery of Fe is > 93.6% and < 109.3%, while that of As is > 79.3% and < 83.99%. The concentrations of Mn and Pb in shale oil are < 1 ppm. The concentration of Ni in shale oil is < 6.04 ppm at 10 °C/min, whereas it decreases to 3.14 ppm at 20 °C/min. The percentage recovery of Ni ranges from > 81.48 to < 84.13. Finally, low concentrations of V in shale oil are detected. These concentrations are 1.13, 1.45, 0.77, and 1.76 ppm at 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min, respectively. The percentage recovery of V is > 76.88% and < 86.31%.
1. Al-Ayed, O. S., Suliman, M. R., Rahman, N. A. Kinetic modeling of liquid generation from oil shale in fixed bed retort. Applied Energy, 2010, 87(7), 2273–2277.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.02.006
2. Wang, S., Jiang, A., Han, X., Tong, J. Effect of residence time on products yield and characteristics of shale oil and gases produced by low-temperature retorting of Dachengzi oil shale. Oil Shale, 2013, 30(4), 501–516.
https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2013.4.04
3. Pan, L., Dai, F., Pei, S., Huang, J., Liu, S. Influence of particle size and temperature on the yield and composition of products from the pyrolysis of Jimsar (China) oil shale. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2021, 157, 105211.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2021.105211
4. Wallman, P. H., Tamm, P. W., Spars, B. G. Oil shale retorting kinetics. In Oil Shale, Tar Sand, and Related Materials (Stauffer, H. C., ed.). American Chemical Society, Washington, 1981, 93–113.
5. Trejo, F., Ancheyta, J., Centeno, G., Marroquín, G. Effect of hydrotreating conditions on Maya asphaltenes composition and structural parameters. Catalysis Today, 2005, 109(1–4), 178–184.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2005.08.013
6. Ancheyta, J., Centeno, G., Trejo, F., Marroquín, G. Changes in asphaltene properties during hydrotreating of heavy crudes. Energy & Fuels, 2003, 17(5), 1233–1238.
https://doi.org/10.1021/ef030023
7. Amer, M. W., Alhesan, J. S. A., Marshall, M., Awwad, A. M., Al-Ayed, O. S. Characterization of Jordanian oil shale and variation in oil properties with pyrolysis temperature. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2019, 140, 219–226.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2019.03.019
8. Zuo, P., Qu, S., Shen, W. Asphaltenes: separations, structural analysis and applications. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2019, 34, 186–207.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jechem.2018.10.004
9. Oja, V., Rooleht, R., Baird, Z. S. Physical and thermodynamic properties of kukersite pyrolysis shale oil: literature review. Oil Shale, 2016, 33(2), 184–197.
https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2016.2.06
10. Al-Jaraden, T., Ayadi, O., Alahmer, A. Towards sustainable shale oil recovery in Jordan: an evaluation of renewable energy sources for in-situ extraction. International Journal of Thermofluids, 2023, 20, 100446.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100446
11. Ibrahim, K. M., Rahman, H. A. Geochemistry and mineralogy of oil shale from Attarat Umm Ghudran area, Jordan. Advance Engineering Science, 2023, 55(1), 3209–3229.
12. Hamarneh, Y. Oil Shale Resources Development in Jordan. Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Natural Resources Authority, 1998.
13. Ibrahim, K. M., Aljurf, S., Rahman, H. B. A., Gülamber, C. Exploration and evaluation of oil shale resources from Attarat area, central Jordan. In IMCET 2019, 16–19 April 2019, Antalya, Turkey, 1116–1128.
14. El-Hasan, T., Abu-Jaber, N., Abdelhadi, N. Hazardous toxic elements mobility in burned oil shale ash and attempts to attain short- and long-term solidification. Oil Shale, 2019, 36(2S), 226–249.
https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2019.2S.12
15. Al-Ayed, O. S., Hajarat, R. A. Shale oil: its present role in the world energy mix. Global Journal of Energy Technology Research Updates, 2018, 5, 11–18.
https://doi.org/10.15377/2409-5818.2018.05.2
16. Al-Ayed, O. S., Kunzru, D. Cyclohexane dehydrogenation on a nickel catalyst: kinetics and catalyst fouling. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 1988, 43(1), 23–38.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.280430104
17. Abu-Nameh, E. S. M., Al-Ayed, O. S., Jadallah, A. Determination of selected elements in shale oil liquid. Oil Shale, 2019, 36(2S), 179–187.
https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2019.2S.08
18. Wang, H., Zhang, W., Qiu, S., Liang, X. Release characteristics of Pb and BETX from in situ oil shale transformation on groundwater environment. Scientific Reports, 2021, 11, 16166.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95509-2
19. Liu, P., Li, W., Tan, R., Zhongbin, L, Bin, Z. Investigation of pyrolysis behavior shale gas oil-based drilling cuttings kinetics and product characteristics. Scientific Reports, 2025, 15, 19775.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04640-x
20. Bai, J. R., Song, K. T., Chen, J. B. The migration of heavy metal elements during pyrolysis of oil shale in Mongolia. Fuel, 2018, 225, 381–387.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.03.168
21. Zhang, Y., Guan, J., Qiao, P., Li, J., Zhang, W. Effects of secondary reaction of primary volatiles on oil/gas yield and quality in oil shale pyrolysis. Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology, 2021, 49(7), 924–932.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-5813(21)60046-4
22. Zhan, H., Qin, F., Chen, S., Chen, R., Meng, Z., Miao, X. et al. Two-step pyrolysis degradation mechanism of oil shale through comprehensive analysis of pyrolysis semi-cokes and pyrolytic gases. Energy, 2022, 241, 122871.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.122871
23. Huang, Y., Zhang, M., Lyu, J., Yang, H., Liu, Q. Modeling study on effects of intraparticle mass transfer and secondary reactions on oil shale pyrolysis. Fuel, 2018, 221, 240–248.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.02.076
24. Yang, D., Tanilas, K., Konist, A., Järvik, O. Evaluating LA-ICP-MS and digestion-based ICP-MS methods for trace elements determination in oil shale and its solid wastes. Talanta, 2025, 295, 128319.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128319
25. Quann, R. J., Neville, M., Janghorbani, M., Mims, C. A., Sarofim, A. F. Mineral matter and trace-elements vaporization in a laboratory-pulverized coal combustion system. Environmental Science & Technology, 1982, 16(11), 776–781.
https://doi.org/10.1021/es00105a009
26. Al-Ayed, O. S., Qawaqneh, M. K., Abu-Nameh, E. S. M. Tracing rare earth elements in oil shale ash. Oil Shale, 2024, 41(2), 132–143.
https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2024.2.04
27. Habib, A., Serniabad, S., Khan, M. S., Islam, R., Chakraborty, M., Nargis, A. et al. Kinetics and mechanism of formation of nickel (II)porphyrin and its interaction with DNA in aqueous medium. Journal of Chemical Science, 2012, 133, 83.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12039-021-01945-y
28. Stasiuk, R., Matlakowska, R. Postdiagenetic bacterial transformation of nickel and vanadyl sedimentary porphyrins of organic-rich shale rock (Fore-Sudetic Monocline, Poland). Frontiers in Microbiological Chemistry and Geomicro-biology, 2021, 12, 772007.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.772007
29. Yakubov, M., Abilova, G., Tazeeva, E., Yakubova, S., Tazeev, D., Mironov, N. et al. A comparative analysis of vanadyl porphyrins isolated from resins of heavy oils with high and low vanadium content. Processes, 2021, 9(12), 2235.
https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9122235
30. O’Day, P. A. Chemistry and mineralogy of arsenic. Elements, 2006, 2(2), 77–83.
https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.2.2.77
31. Sikonia, J. G. Arsenic management in shale oil upgrading. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 1985, 7, 64–68.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01771340
32. Al-Ayed, O. S., Al-Harahsheh, A., Khaleel, A. M., Al-Harahsheh, M. Oil shale pyrolysis in fixed-bed retort with different heating rates. Oil Shale, 2009, 26(2), 139–147.
https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2009.2.06
33. Voolmaa, M., Soesoo, A., Puura, V., Hade, S., Aosaar, H. Assessing the geo-chemical variability of oil shale in the Attarat Um Ghudran deposit, Jordan. Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2016, 65(2), 61–74.
https://doi.org/10.3176/earth.2016.06