View in EDS

Graphitization of marine kerogen and its effects on nanopores and adsorption performance.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Graphitization of marine kerogen and its effects on nanopores and adsorption performance.
Authors: Meng, Guangming1,2 (AUTHOR), Xiao, Xianming1,3 (AUTHOR) xmxiao@cugb.edu.cn, Gai, Haifeng2 (AUTHOR), Zhao, Yanming1 (AUTHOR), Xing, Yijie1 (AUTHOR), Zhang, Kun4 (AUTHOR), Liu, Yu5 (AUTHOR), Zhou, Qin2 (AUTHOR), Li, Tengfei2 (AUTHOR), Liu, Wei1 (AUTHOR), Cheng, Peng2 (AUTHOR), Gao, Ping1 (AUTHOR)
Source: SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences. Jun2026, Vol. 69 Issue 6, p2226-2247. 22p.
Subject Terms: *Graphitization, *Nanopores, *Kerogen, *Underground storage, *Shale gas, *Adsorption capacity, *Gas absorption & adsorption
Geographic Terms: China
Abstract: The graphitization process of marine kerogen and its impact on nanopore characteristics and adsorption performance remain poorly understood, severely constraining shale gas exploration in over-mature shale reservoirs and their assessment as potential subsurface repositories for CO2 and H2 storage. This study systematically investigated the structural evolution, pore characteristics, and methane (CH4) adsorption capacity of the kerogen samples of Lower Cambrian shales from South China across a maturity gradient from 2.51% to 6.20% EqRo (equivalent vitrinite reflectance) using a multi-technique approach such as laser Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, low-pressure gas (N2 and CO2) adsorption, and high-pressure CH4 adsorption. The results revealed a well-defined three-stage evolution with covariant relationships among the three aspects. The evolution of kerogen structure, demarcated by the maturity thresholds of approximately 3.5% and 4.5% EqRo, progresses from a disordered carbon-dominated structure, through a transition of short-range ordered graphitic microcrystals, towards three-dimensionally ordered crystalline graphite, corresponding to the carbonization, pre-graphitization, and semi-graphitization, to graphitization stages, respectively. Concurrently, the evolution of kerogen micropores shows an initial increase and then a substantial decrease from the carbonization stage to the pre-graphitization stage, and up to the graphitization stage, while the homogeneity of nanopores (including both micropores and non-micropores) is markedly enhanced. Accordingly, the graphitization process drastically reduces the CH4 adsorption capacity of kerogen and markedly weakens the affinity of pore surfaces to CH4 molecules. Mechanistically, the structural evolution of kerogen governs the changes in pore structure (especially micropores), thereby controlling CH4 adsorption performance. Based on these integrated findings, a conceptual model of the co-evolution of kerogen structure, nanopore characteristics, and adsorption capacity was established. For overmature reservoirs, the implications of graphitization to shale gas exploration were clarified, and the potential risks associated with the subsurface storage of CO2 and H2 were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 194358147
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Graphitization of marine kerogen and its effects on nanopores and adsorption performance.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Meng%2C+Guangming%22">Meng, Guangming</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xiao%2C+Xianming%22">Xiao, Xianming</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> xmxiao@cugb.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gai%2C+Haifeng%22">Gai, Haifeng</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhao%2C+Yanming%22">Zhao, Yanming</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xing%2C+Yijie%22">Xing, Yijie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Kun%22">Zhang, Kun</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liu%2C+Yu%22">Liu, Yu</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhou%2C+Qin%22">Zhou, Qin</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Tengfei%22">Li, Tengfei</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liu%2C+Wei%22">Liu, Wei</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cheng%2C+Peng%22">Cheng, Peng</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gao%2C+Ping%22">Gao, Ping</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22SCIENCE+CHINA+Earth+Sciences%22">SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 69 Issue 6, p2226-2247. 22p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graphitization%22">Graphitization</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nanopores%22">Nanopores</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kerogen%22">Kerogen</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Underground+storage%22">Underground storage</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Shale+gas%22">Shale gas</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adsorption+capacity%22">Adsorption capacity</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gas+absorption+%26+adsorption%22">Gas absorption & adsorption</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The graphitization process of marine kerogen and its impact on nanopore characteristics and adsorption performance remain poorly understood, severely constraining shale gas exploration in over-mature shale reservoirs and their assessment as potential subsurface repositories for CO2 and H2 storage. This study systematically investigated the structural evolution, pore characteristics, and methane (CH4) adsorption capacity of the kerogen samples of Lower Cambrian shales from South China across a maturity gradient from 2.51% to 6.20% EqRo (equivalent vitrinite reflectance) using a multi-technique approach such as laser Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, low-pressure gas (N2 and CO2) adsorption, and high-pressure CH4 adsorption. The results revealed a well-defined three-stage evolution with covariant relationships among the three aspects. The evolution of kerogen structure, demarcated by the maturity thresholds of approximately 3.5% and 4.5% EqRo, progresses from a disordered carbon-dominated structure, through a transition of short-range ordered graphitic microcrystals, towards three-dimensionally ordered crystalline graphite, corresponding to the carbonization, pre-graphitization, and semi-graphitization, to graphitization stages, respectively. Concurrently, the evolution of kerogen micropores shows an initial increase and then a substantial decrease from the carbonization stage to the pre-graphitization stage, and up to the graphitization stage, while the homogeneity of nanopores (including both micropores and non-micropores) is markedly enhanced. Accordingly, the graphitization process drastically reduces the CH4 adsorption capacity of kerogen and markedly weakens the affinity of pore surfaces to CH4 molecules. Mechanistically, the structural evolution of kerogen governs the changes in pore structure (especially micropores), thereby controlling CH4 adsorption performance. Based on these integrated findings, a conceptual model of the co-evolution of kerogen structure, nanopore characteristics, and adsorption capacity was established. For overmature reservoirs, the implications of graphitization to shale gas exploration were clarified, and the potential risks associated with the subsurface storage of CO2 and H2 were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=194358147
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s11430-025-1902-7
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 2226
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Graphitization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nanopores
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kerogen
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Underground storage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Shale gas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adsorption capacity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gas absorption & adsorption
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Graphitization of marine kerogen and its effects on nanopores and adsorption performance.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Meng, Guangming
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Xiao, Xianming
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gai, Haifeng
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhao, Yanming
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Xing, Yijie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Kun
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Liu, Yu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhou, Qin
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Li, Tengfei
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Liu, Wei
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cheng, Peng
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gao, Ping
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 16747313
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 69
            – Type: issue
              Value: 6
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences
              Type: main
ResultId 1