wood
A heterogeneous material consisting essentially of
cellulose (the principal constituent of the cell
wall of all plants), hemicelluloses, lignin,
organic extratives (essential oils, resins, and
the like), water, and soluble salts. It is the raw
material for making mechanical and chemical pulps
used in the manufacture of paper, as well as
numerous other products. Wood, usually in the form
of sawdust and shavings, is also used extensively
as an inexpensive source of cellulose in a wide
variety of chemical processes. Wood bark, and wood
itself to a lesser extent. is an important source
of vegetable tanning materials.
Green wood contains approximately 40 to 60% water,
while dry wood consists of approximately 50O
carbon, 6% hydrogen, 40 to 42.5% oxygen, 1%
nitrogen, and yields 0.81 to 3.3% ash.
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