Liquefaction of Prangmites australis by supercritical gas extraction

Prangmites australis Mill was converted to liquid products by using organic solvents (methanol and ethanol) with catalyst (10% NaOH) and without catal yst in an autoclave at temperatures of 523 and 563 K. The liquid products w ere extracted by liquid-liquid ex-traction (benzene and diethyl ether). The yields from supercritical methanol and ethanol coversions were 38.7 and 53 .6%, respectively, at 563 K. In the catalytic runs with methanol and ethano l the extracts were 44.2 and 57.6%, respectively, at 563 K. The yields from supercritical methanol were increased from 373 to 44.2% as the temperature was increased from 523 to 563 K in the catalytic run. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.