Analysis of Depolymerization Product of Cornstalk in Supercritical Ethanol

[Objective] The depolymerization product of cornstalk in supercritical ethanol was studied.[Method] The depolymerization product was analyzed with FTIR and GC/MS.[Result] The results showed that its components were quite complex,and 89 organic compounds were identified.There were 72 kinds of oxygen-containing organic compounds which included esters,phenols,aethers,ketones and alcohols in the depolymerization product,small amounts of alkanes,alkenes,arenes,thiophenol and nitrogen-containing organic compounds were also detected,which showed that characteristics of the product with high oxygen content,low nitrogen and sulphur content.The content of ethyl esters was 42.7%,which indicated that esterification reactions of fatty acids,phthalic acids or phenylpropionic acids with ethanol.Phenols(22.9%),arenes and methoxybenzenes might come from depolymerization products of lignin in supercritical ethanol.[Conclusion] Components of the depolymerization product were quite complex,and ethanol involved in depropagation reaction of cornstalk in supercritical ethanol.