Liquefaction of corn cobs with supercritical water treatment

Corn cob powder was liquefied in a high-pressure reactor. The composition of the gas and liquid phases produced were analyzed. It was found that the yield of the gas phase and liquid phase increased, while the yield of solid residue decreased with increasing temperature. The gas phase was 33.4% to 49.15% (wt %), the liquid phase was 22.6% to 43% (wt %), and the solid phase was 23.6% to 28.25% (wt %) at 5 to 20 min. Liquid yield increased with the addition of potassium hydroxide. Total liquefaction yield decreased with the increasing of corn cob powder content. The gas phase consisted of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and a small amount of hydrocarbon. The liquid phase consisted of cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, ketone, aldehyde, carboxylic acid, ester, nitrogenated compound, and related derivatives.