Separation and identification of petroporphyrins extracted from the oil shales of Tarfaya: geochemical study

Abstract Vanadyl and nickel porphyrins were isolated from the oil shales of Tarfaya (Morocco) by extraction followed by column chromatography. The ratios and characteristics of these porphyrin complexes were essentially obtained on the basis of UV–visible and mass spectrometry data. Geochemical information could be drawn from these data. The nature and the contents of the metals coordinated and non-coordinated to porphyrin systems were also determined in this study.