Sugar from Sawdust.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 4, 22 January 1913, Page 7

Sugar from Sawdust.

A short time ago certain scientists proved to their own satisfaction, if nut to the public’s tihat the cow was by no means indispensable as a purveyor of milk, and introduced to our notice a laboratory-made article which they de dared had all the virtues of the best fed cow, and not of its possible vires. Success in the laboratory does not, however, always guarantee success wlhen a process is tried on a rominer cial scale, and up to the present synthetic milk, like synthetic rubner, shows no sign of becoming a serious competitor with the natural article. For that reason, perhaps, the world will refuse to take the latest synthetic triumph very seriously. It is the produr t-ion of sugar, highly ntritious cattlefood, acetic acid, furfural, formaldehyde. and a few other more or less vain able items, from sawdust. How sawdust can be turned into valuable cattle-food, or a subst mce for utility in a number of industries, was explained before Mr. Zimmerman before the Royal Society of Arts the other day. By the “ Ckvsscn Process” sawdust is .subjected in closed retorts to digestion with a weak sulphurous acid solution, and under pressure of about 901bs. to lOOlbs. to the square inch. A very eilvctive transmutation takes place under these conditions. Of the resulting pro duet, sugar is an important const-ituent, the amount being -about '2o per cent. • Though improvements hive been made in the quality of the sugars obtained, so far it has not been possible to pre pare a crystalline sugar on a commercial scale. But the converted fibrous product known as “ sacx-hulose ” has proved of* great nulritive value when mixed wil-h a small quantity of molasses or sonm fatty substance. Air. Zimmerman quoted the results of a number of experiments upon horses and sheep with this diet. The m 0.4 striking was that won a colt declared by four veterinary, surgeons to be in sych a state that it ought to be destroyed, as it was not possible for the animal to digest any normal foods. At u* end of six months’ feeding on sacvhulose an 1 molasses the colt showed a total increase of more than 40 per cent in weight, and was “ fit for any work.’’ Discussing the possibility of utilising the converted woo<l substance and its sugar content in other directions. Mr. Zimmerman mentioned that a Ruttory, capable of treating 200 tons of sawdust per week, could turn out between 300,ttOO and 400,000 gallons of proof spirit per annum. This would also give by-pro-ducts of 50 tons of acetic acid, 10 tons of furfurol, and 2,000 gallons of me~..ylalcohol for recovery. Of late years, too, molasses hid been used for road sprinkling, and it was strongly suggesttul that Cuban molasses could be xhippiyl to New York for ttus purpose. Why should not a similar product, home produced, be used for home consumption? Synthetic rubber, made from starch or sugar, was also mentioned by Mr. Ziiu merman, who said that converted wood might claim to be the cheapest' base from which to start such a purpose, and it would doubtless be of great assistance for the development of this process. Whoever would have susj»erted flawdust of possessing such possibilities? To ■the average person sawdust has ■ ..hcr-t-Q appealed as a substance chiefly useful fur slutting dolls, smoking fish, and throwing on tavern floors.