Pyrolysis experiments were conducted on a unit of thermogravimetric-infrared (TG-FTIR) spectrometry to examine the evolution characteristics of methane from pyrolysis of oil shale obtained from three locations (LK
NM
and WQ). The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to investigate the functional groups of oil shale. The results show that the pyrolysis process of oil shale could be divided into four stages. The pyrolysis reactions and release of volatiles mainly occurred in the second stage (400-600℃). The evolution of methane was closely related to the content of aliphatic hydrocarbons in oil shale (the absorption band of 3000-2800 cm-1). The higher content of aliphatic hydrocarbons
the more methane generated during pyrolysis process. By the peak fitting and binding kinetics analysis of the methane precipitation curve
it is concluded that the formation of methane is a result of a desorption process and four chemical reactions.