Progress reports are presented for the following studies: (1) dust; (2) pyrolysis of n-butane; and (3) ammonia from pyrolysis of Devonian oil shale. During this quarter the investigators compared the amount of dust produced by packed bed and fluidized bed processing of shales and also report on work done on the rate of dust generation by raw and processed shale in laboratory fluidized beds. One factor that contributes to oil yield losses during oil shale pyrolysis is the production of light gases. In order to better understand the fundamental chemistry leading to light gas production, the pyrolysis reaction of simple n-alkanes has been studied. N-butane was chosen as the model system because its cracking products are simple gases. Product gas distribution and selectivity as a result of n-butane cracking over various components typically associated with oil shale (minerals, elements, etc.) was monitored. Using a simple flow reactor, a base case for n-butane cracking (over sand at 540/sup 0/C) was established for comparison. Ammonia produced during oil generation has evolution kinetics similar to oil. The amount of ammonia produced from char relative to oil depends on the retort design and the experiment. With a rapid inert gas sweep, char formation is limited, but char is still the major precursor of ammonia. Iron is a good catalyst for ammonia decomposition as well as synthesis, and a stainless steel (SS) retort can act as a catalyst. The decomposition of ammonia in a SS retort is compared graphically with the case in a quartz retort. 6 figs., 3 tabs.