Utilization of Chemicals from Wood: Retrospect and Prospect

Biodegradation

“…These include lactic acid (lactic acid polymers and acrylics) but commercial production will require considerable improvements in lactic acid separation and purification. Another suggestion is levulinic acid which has a rather chequered history (Herrick 1977).…”

11. Reactions in Alkaline Medium

“…(Herrick et al 1975;Herrick, Hergert 1977;Haidegger 1977). The polyols of greatest importance to technology are sorbitol, xylitol and mannitol, Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 7/22/15 7:59 PM which have attracted increasing interest in recent years for the production of vitamin C, of surface-active agents, and as diabetic sweeteners or basic material for tablets (-» 18.5.)…”

18. Utilization of Wood and Wood Components for Chemicals and Energy

“…The theoretical yield of this anaerobic process, which is carried out generally with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is 51% of which 85-95% can be reached by commercially tested techniques (Goldstein 1976). 33 plants in Sweden in 1945, but its importance has decreased in the last two decades (Herrick, Hergert 1977). Practical ethanol fermentation of pulping liquors is only carried out with softwood sulfite spent liquors with a high content of hexose sugars.…”

“…Hydroxymethylfurfural is not produced commercially today but the potential utilization of this chemical is based on its bifunctional structure which allows numerous reactions to yield intermediates for important plastics such as polyesters, po-Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 6/6/15 6:48 PM lyamides, polycarbonates, epoxides, furan resins and nylon (McKibbins et al 1962;Büsing et al 1978). The commercial production of the degradation product levulinic acid was carried out in the U.S.A. till 1965 on the basis of saw dust, but there is no market for this chemical today (Herrick, Hergert 1977).…”