Liquefaction of sunflower stalk by using supercritical extraction

Sunflower stalk mill was converted to liquid products by using some organic solvents (methanol, ethanol and acetone) with catalyst (% 10 NaOH) and without catalyst in an autoclave at different temperatures, 523 and 563 K. The liquid products were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction (benzene and diethyl ether). The yields of supercritical methanol, ethanol and acetone extractions were 40.00, 45.60 and 47.80%, respectively, at 563 K. In the catalytic runs, the methanol and ethanol extractions were 58.03 and 54.17%, respectively, at 563 K. The yields of supercritical methanol extraction have been increase From 38.52 to 58.03% as the temperature increased from 523 to 563 K in the catalytic run. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.