Ground cotton cocoon shell was converted to liquid products by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using acetone and water as solvents and NaOH, Na2CO3, KOH and K2CO3 as alkalis in an autoclave at temperatures of 508, 523, 543, 563, 583, 623 and 650 K. The yields from SFE with acetone were 35.6% at 508 K and with water were 69.1% at 653 K. The yields from liquefaction with water were 80.2% and 86.2% using NaOH and KOH (sample-to-alkali ratio was 1:1) at 573 K for 30 min, respectively. The oxygen contents of the products were 22.9% and 28.9% from the extractions (at >491 K) and the low pressure pyrolyses (at range of 439-469 K), respectively. The maximum yield of product was obtained from the water extractions with KOH additive. The maximum yields of extracts increased from 56.5% to 89.6% obtained from the water extraction runs with 100% KOH additive at the temperature range of 508-653 K. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.