Application of Supercritical Fluid Extraction Method for the Purification of Peat Cellulose and Compositional Features of the Extracts

Key words: 
• supercritical fluid extraction

Abstract: Supercritical fluid extraction method(SFEm) has been used for the purification of peat cellulose and the extracts were analyzed and determined by gas chromatographymass spectrometry. Series of methyl esters, ethyl esters and nalkanes as well as small amount of fatty acids were detected. Cmax of longchain nalkanes , being typical of oddtoeven carbon number predominance,are at C29,C31,C33.Most of the series of ethyl esters which have not been reported by far have characteristic of a distribution at high carbon number and distinct eventoodd carbon number predominance. All of this, to a certain extent, discloses the information of climatic condition and variation in the process of the formation of peat. Supercritical fluid extraction method is indicated to be capable of removing lipids successfully from peat cellulose, which is in favor of improving the accuracy of δ13C value in peat cellulose, and opens another new road for the application of SFEm in earth science.