Biological Utilization of Wood for Production of Chemicals and Foodstuffs.
Abstract
In the long term, mankind will have to depend on solar energy and photosynthetic processes rather than on fossil materials for energy and material needs. Cellulose and the hemicelluloses, which make up about 70 percent of the dry matter of trees and shrubs, are the most abundant, renewable, raw materials on earth. At present, the highest uses of wood are for structural material and as a source of fiber. There are, however, large quantities of wood residues produced during harvesting and manufacture that might be used. Intensive silviculture can greatly increase the supply of wood for all purposes. This paper reviews the work the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory has done over nearly 70 years to produce chemicals and feedstuffs from wood residues. Wood has been converted successfully to fermentation chemicals such as ethyl alcohol, glycerol, arabitol, erythritol, butanol, acetone, and 2,3-butylene glycol as well as to feedstuffs such as molasses and yeast, and to wood modified to make the polysaccharides digestible by ruminants. At present such use of wood is economically marginal, but is potentially economic in the future. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA098945
Entities
People
- George J. Hajny
Organizations
- Forest Products Laboratory