Application of the Walkley–Black titration for the organic carbon quantification in organic rich sedimentary rocks

Forty-three samples of Israeli organic-rich sedimentary rocks (oil shales) have been analyzed for organic carbon content by a modified Walkley–Black titration method and dry combustion method. A good correlation (R2 = 0.92) between the OC results obtained by two methods is observed, but a correction factor is suggested to be applied to OC results obtained by the Walkley–Black method. Considering the simplicity of the modified Walkley–Black titration method its general applicability to the analysis of total organic carbon content in the oil shale deposits may be preferable in many cases.