Liquefaction of Typha latifolia by supercritical fluid extraction

Milled Typha latifolia stalk mill was converted to liquid products by using organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone and 2-butanol) with catalysts (10% NaOH or Na2CO3) and without catalyst in an autoclave at temperatures of 518, 538 and 558 K. The products were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction (benzene and diethyl ether). The percentage yields from supercritical methanol, ethanol, 2-butanol and acetone conversions were 55.0, 58.5, 62.7 and 70.5 at 538 K, respectively. In the catalytic run with NaOH, the highest conversion was obtained by using ethanol as a solvent at the same temperature. Conversion yields were analyzed by GC–MS. The aim of the present study was to obtain an alternative for petroleum derived fuels or chemical raw materials.