CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO REJEITO FINOS DE XISTO E DO SUBPRODUTO CALCÁRIO DE XISTO DO PROCESSO PETROSIX

Abstract

This work presents the compilation and analysis of several analytical data obtained in the characterization of shale fine and lime schist, two abundant residuals in the Petrosix process. In order to ensure better representativeness of results, samples of lime schist extracted from complete vertical cuts of the layer were analyzed, and indirect analysis procedure was adopted for the shale fine residual, which basically consists of the characterization of samples obtained from complete vertical sections of superior and inferior shale layers in the Mine Rio das Pedras pit, within the Irati formation, in São Mateus do Sul PR. Analytical results obtained though Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) revealed that the lime schist layer presents mass predominance of the elements: Calcium, Silicon and Magnesium, and that this predominance, as indicated by the X-Ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), is due to the significant presence of Dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) and Quartz (SiO2), and that the great reduction of mass after the Fixed Mineral Residue analysis is mainly related to CO2 elimination, in the dolomite thermal decomposition process. In the shale fine characterization, analytical results obtained through ICP-AES demonstrated that superior and inferior shale layers presented mass predominance of the elements silicon and iron, and this predominance, as indicated by the XRD is mainly due to the presence of Quartz (SiO2) and Pyrite (FeS2), and that the mass reduction after Fixed Mineral Residue analysis is related to the elimination of organic matter and the Pyrite thermal decomposition, with the former as the most relevant factor. Shale layers also presented Albite, Microcline and Muscovite, particle density similar values, crude oil with chromatographic profile of relative elevation in mass between the Heptane and Undecane peaks, uniform distribution between Dodecane and Octacosane peaks, decreasing distribution between the Nonacosane and C72 peaks, with normal spare paraffins in an unresolved complex organic mixture. These results indicate that the fine shale residue has a composition that oscillates between the narrow parameters of superior and inferior shale.