Supercritical fluid extraction of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Conversion of milled Phalaris arundinacea stalk to liquid products has been performed with organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone and 2-butanol) with catalysts (NaOH or Na2CO3) and without catalyst in an autoclave at temperatures of 530, 550 and 570 K. The liquid products obtained were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction with benzene and diethyl ether. The percentage of yields (liquid products) from supercritical extraction by methanol, ethanol, 2-butanol and acetone conversions were 51.7%, 57.2%, 59.8% and 72.8% at 570 K respectively. The highest conversion in the catalytic run was obtained by using ethanol with NaOH at the same temperature (570 K). Some of selected yields of conversion were analyzed by GC-MS. The purpose of present study was to obtain an alternative for petroleum derived fuels or chemical raw materials. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.