Separation of phenols and ketones from bio-oil produced from ethanolysis of wheat stalk

• Extraction and column chromatography were used to separate SEB systematically.
• C8–C30 alkanes were enriched into petroleum ether-eluted fractions.
• Phenols were divided into four fractions with the phenol concentration up to ∼100%.
• Acetophenone and hydroxycyclopentenones were successfully isolated, respectively.

To realize an efficient utilization of bio-oil, extraction-column chromatography was employed to separate bio-oil produced by ethanolysis of wheat stalk. The bio-oil was roughly separated by extraction with acid and alkaline solutions as well as organic solvents. Some species in the extracts was enriched by column chromatography with petroleum ether or mixture of acetone/carbon disulfide as the elution solvent. The bio-oil and all the sub-fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. C8–C30 alkanes were enriched into petroleum ether-eluted sub-fractions in a concentration of 97.6%. Phenols and acetophenone were isolated in concentrations of near 100% and 71.2%, respectively, by elution with acetone/carbon disulfide. In addition, ketones were also significantly concentrated.