Effect of lignin content on hydrothermal liquefication of biomass into oil

The influence of cellulose:lignin ratios on liquid hydrocarbons (crude oil) production by hydrothermal conversion of biomass was investigated. Crude oil was recovered with acetone and analysised by GC-MS. The oil from the high ratio of cellulose: lignin consists of ketone and cyclopentene derivatives mainly whereas that of low ratio consists of phenolic compounds. The yields of crude oil were increased from 27.8% to 35.4% (w/w) with the lignin content decreasing from 100% to 25 % (w/w), and were decreased from 34% to 27% (w/w) with increasing cellulose content from 75% to 100% (w/w), which has no obvious relationship with the lignin content in the substrates.