Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1898 — New Products of Wood. [ARTICLE]

New Products of Wood.

It la not generally known that over' 60 per cent of wood may be converted into liquid. The strongest hydraulic pressure would not squeeze oue-half of 1 per cent of moisture from dry wood, but by putting the same material into an Iron retort and converting it into charcoal by means of heat, the gases and smoke, to the extent of fully 66 per cent of the weight of the wood, may be condensed into a liquid called pyroligneous acid, and from It are obtained wood alcohol, acetate of lime and wood tars. A cord of wood weighing 4,000 pounds produces about 2,660 pounds of , pyroligneous acid and 700 pounds of jcharcoal. The pyroligneous acid from one cord erf wood produces nine gallons of 82 per cent crude wood alcohol, 200 pounds of acetate of lime and about 25 gallons of tar, besides 35 bushels of charcoal. After tbe pyroligneous acid is neutralized with lime the wood alcohol is distilled off, the lime holding tbe acetic add in solution. After the separation of the wood spirit, tbe remaining liquid is boiled down In open pans to a sugar, which is dried, and becomes the acetate of lime of commerce. Acetate of lime is used for making acetic acid. Fully three-fifths of all tbe wood alcohol and acetate of lime produced in the world are made in the United States. Fully 15,000 acres per year are cleared for this purpose. Wood alcohol for manufacturing and mechanical purposes, and at less than one-third tbs cost. It is used principally as a solvent in the making of shellac varnish, la making celluloid, photographic paper; etc. It makes many beautiful dye tints. It is antiseptic, and much used for liniments and for skin-rubbing la bath houses.