THE FAO Technical Subcommittee on Wood Chemistry was convened for the first time on 3 September, 1947, at Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.A., under the Chairmanship of Dr. Herman Mark of the Polytechnic Institute at Brooklyn.
The following papers were presented for discussion: -
1. The Chemical Utilization of Wood in Japan (H. R. Murdock)
2. Nomenclature, Testing, and Specifications (R. W. Macdonald)
3. Wood Sugar and Sulfite Spirit (J. A. Hall)
4. Lignin (H. F., Lewis)
5. Wood Resin (E. Ott)
6. Improved Cooking Methods (E. C. Jahn)
7. Chemical Wood Utilization in South America (H. Mark)
The reports on conditions in the Far East and Latin America stressed the need in those regions for technical assistance and trained chemists and engineers to stimulate better utilization of forest products. Appropriate measures to provide such help are now under consideration by the Subcommittee.
On the basis of the report on "Nomenclature, Testing, and Specifications" the Committee members agreed on the possibility of arriving at an international standardization, and recommended the drawing up of a preliminary report on this subject.
Many interesting technical details were given regarding operation of the wood sugar plant sponsored by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and completed in January 1947. Although this plant is not actually operating, it can, in the opinion of engineers responsible for its construction, operate efficiently and produce alcohol beyond its estimated capacity.
In the report on "Lignin" the lack of interest in the fundamental study of that material was pointed out. A real research program would be a matter of current importance to the pulp and paper, the lumber, and the organic chemical industries, while its future utilization might touch the economic well-being of the whole world. The Subcommittee favored the creation of an annual prize intended to promote research in the field of lignin.
The importance of wood resin is considerably greater than indicated by the facts. The unit value and the aggregate money value of these resins are high because of the unique combination of chemical and physical properties obtainable from them by purification, and chemical modification. It is not likely that such versatile raw materials will ever be obtained synthetically at such a low coat.
The report on "Improved Cooking Methods" described the many improvements that have come into use during recent years and pointed out the definite trends in industrial practice toward improved pulping techniques. There is great activity in regard to the use of new species, particularly hardwoods. Particular attention was given by the Committee to the semi-chemical pulping process in view of its fundamental importance to undeveloped countries and to the possible establishment of small units with comparatively little capital investment.
Since the beginning of the century the wood chemical industry has made tremendous strides; world output of pulp is now some 25 million tons, a figure which lies, in over-all magnitude, in the same category as the leading metals and oils and several basic foodstuffs. However, compared to the annual cut of the world's forests, this figure is comparatively small and tremendous possibilities still lie ahead.
The Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
