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A photometric method for the estimation of the oil yield of oil shale

January 1, 1951

A method is presented for the distillation and photometric estimation of the oil yield of oil-bearing shales. The oil shale is distilled in a closed test tube and the oil extracted with toluene. The optical density of the toluene extract is used in the estimation of oil content and is converted to percentage of oil by reference to a standard curve. This curve is obtained by relating the oil yields determined by the Fischer assay method to the optical density of the toluene extract of the oil evolved by the new procedure. The new method gives results similar to those obtained by the Fischer assay method in a much shorter time. The applicability of the new method to oil-bearing shale and phosphatic shale has been tested.

Publication Year 1951
Title A photometric method for the estimation of the oil yield of oil shale
DOI 10.3133/tei152
Authors Frank Cuttitta
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Trace Elements Investigations
Series Number 152
Index ID tei152
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
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