A simple routine method for the rapid determination of organic and inorganic carbon in oil shale

A procedure for the rapid determination of organic and inorganic carbon in oil shale samples is proposed. Oil shale samples are decomposed in an oxygen stream at three different temperatures (450°C, 550°C, 900°C). The resulting CO₂ is determined after absorption in 0.02 M NaOH in a relative conductometric detection unit. Temperature. differentiated carbon analysis was used to establish the decomposition temperatures of the organic material (450°C) and the inorganic fractions (550°C and 900°C). The method was tested for samples weighing 2–4 mg. Oil shales with organic carbon contents of 8–20% were determined with good reproducibility (r.s.d. 0.4–1.3%). The accuracy was tested with a standard oil shale sample. One determination requires 8 min.