Liquefaction of giant fennel (Ferula orientalis L.) in supercritical organic solvents: Effects of liquefaction parameters on product yields and character

• Ferula orientalis L. stalks were converted to liquid products.
• Acetone as solvent and zinc chloride as catalyst provide the optimum conditions for liquefaction.
• The liquid products were extracted with benzene and diethyl ether.
• 126 different compounds were identified by GC–MS in the liquid products obtained in ethanol at 300 °C.

Ferula orientalis L. stalks were liquefied in an autoclave in supercritical organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, acetone and 2-butanol) with (NaOH, Na2CO3, ZnCl2) and without catalyst at five different temperatures ranging from 240 °C to 320 °C. The amounts of solid (unconverted raw material), liquid (bio-oil) and gas produced, as well as the composition of the resulting liquid phase, were determined. The effects of various parameters such as temperature, solvent, catalyst and ratio of catalyst on product yields were investigated. The results showed that conversion highly depends on the temperature and catalyst. The highest bio-oil yield (53.97%) was obtained using acetone with 10% zinc chloride at 300 °C. The liquid products were extracted with benzene and diethyl ether. Some of selected liquid products (bio-oils) were analyzed by elemental, FT-IR and GC–MS. 126 different compounds were identified by GC–MS in the liquid products obtained in ethanol at 300 °C.

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