Mineral reactions and pyrolysis of Israeli oil shale

The mineral reactions of Israeli oil shale fed to the GENESIS ($\text{G}$eneration of $\text{Ene}$rgy from $\text{S}$hale of $\text{Is}$rael) split-stage fluidized-bed reactor have been studied by infrared. X-ray and chemical means. Organically bonded sulphur released during pyrolysis reacts with oxygen from the fluidizing air and with CaO resulting from decomposition of calcite to form CaSO₄, mostly in a surface layer. At pyrolysis and coke-oxidation temperatures near 600°C, kaolinite reacts with calcite to form amorphous modified metakaolinite. At organic gas combustion temperatures near 1000°C, the amorphous phase in overhead fines reacts with additional calcite and quartz to yield gehlenite and larnite.