The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of extractives on the yield and composition of oil obtained from biomass samples (Artemisia ordosica, corn stalk and wheat straw). Direct deoxy-liquefaction experiments of original and extracted biomass were performed at certain temperature in a stainless steel tubular reactor. Benzene-alcohol solvent extraction had significant effect on the product distribution of biomass, especially on the yield and composition of the product oils. The oil yield of original biomass and alkane content in the oil were in the range of 5.44-9.27% and 8.23-23.64%, while decreased to 3.83-4.45% and 1.07-6.03% for the extracted biomass. This study concludes that most of alkanes in the oil mainly derive from the decomposition of triglyceride and hydrocarbon existed in the extractives of biomass. The results might be helpful to study the origin of alkanes and benzene derivatives in the oil obtained from biomass via direct deoxy-liquefaction. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.