Direct Liquefaction of Corn Stalk in Sub- and Supercritical Methanol.

Corn stalk was liquefied in methanol under sub/supercritical states and the reaction mixture was extracted with methanol, acetone, and acetone/CS2 (1:1 vol/vol) mixed solvent sequentially. The effects of temperature, time, and the ratio of corn stalk to solvent on the yields of extracts and residue were investigated. The extracts were analyzed with a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. The results show that corn stalk can be liquefied in sub- and supercritical methanol and over 98% of corn stalk is converted at 300°C and 1.5 h. Benzene-ring-containing compounds, and methyl alkanoates are the dominant constituents of the methanol-extractable fractions from corn stalk liquefied with methanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]