Van Krevelen diagram explained

Van Krevelen diagrams are graphical plots developed byDirk Willem van Krevelen (chemist and professor of fuel technology at the TU Delft) and used to assess the origin and maturity of kerogen and petroleum. The diagram cross-plots the hydrogen:carbon atomic ratio as a function of the oxygen:carbon atomic ratio.

Beginning around 2003, the diagrams are often used to visualize data from mass spectrometry analysis, used for mixtures other than kerogen and petroleum.^[1] For example, the diagrams have been used in one analysis of the components in Scotch whiskey.^[2]

Types of kerogen

Different types of kerogen have differing potentials to produce oil during maturation. These various types of kerogen can be distinguished on a van Krevelen diagram.^[3]

See also

• Petroleum geology
• Maturity (geology)

References

• van Krevelen, D.W. (1950). "Graphical-statistical method for the study of structure and reaction processes of coal", Fuel, 29, 269–84.
• van Krevelen, D.W. and Schuyer, J. (1957) Coal science. Elsevier publishing company.
• The chemistry and technology of petroleum

Notes and References

1. Kew. William. Blackburn. John W.T.. Clarke. David J.. Uhrín. Dušan. 2017-04-15. Interactive van Krevelen diagrams – Advanced visualisation of mass spectrometry data of complex mixtures. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 31. 7. 658–662. 10.1002/rcm.7823. 0951-4198. 5324645. 28063248. 2017RCMS...31..658K .
2. Kew. Will. Goodall. Ian. Clarke. David. Uhrín. Dušan. 2017-01-01. Chemical Diversity and Complexity of Scotch Whisky as Revealed by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. en. 28. 1. 200–213. 10.1007/s13361-016-1513-y. 1879-1123. 5174148. 27752914. 2017JASMS..28..200K .
3. Web site: Source Rock and Kerogen. en. August 18, 2018. University Gadjah Mada.