Nineteen different amino acids were liquefied by reaction at 300 degrees C for 1 h to study distribution of nitrogen in amino acids and reaction products. Oil yields of the amino acids except tryptophan were less than 10%. Nitrogen contents of oil were less than 13%. All of the amino acids were unstable and most of the amino acid, except tryptophan, was converted to water soluble nitrogen compounds other than amino acids, so that the residue of nitrogen in feedstock amino acids in the oil was less than 7%. For tryptophan, oil yield was 66% and the distribution of nitrogen to the oil was 50%.