Wood synthesis

S. Dailey, W.J. Feast, R.J. Peace, I.C. Sage, S. Till, and E.L. Wood, Synthesis and device characterization of side-chain polymer electron transport materials for organic semiconducting applications, J. Mater. Chem., 11 2238-2243, 2001. 

Wood, R. M., Wilcox, R. J., Euid Grossmann, I. E., A Note on the Minimum Number of Units for Heat Exchanger Network Synthesis, Chem. Eng. Commun., 39 371, 1985. 

Wood rosin process Woodruffite Wood shakes Wood shingles Wood smoke Woods strike Wood stain Wood stains Woodward s synthesis Wood waste Wood waste ash Wood wastes Woody fragrances Woody odor... 

Chemicals have long been manufactured from biomass, especially wood (sHvichemicals), by many different fermentation and thermochemical methods. For example, continuous pyrolysis of wood was used by the Ford Motor Co. in 1929 for the manufacture of various chemicals (Table 20) (47). Wood alcohol (methanol) was manufactured on a large scale by destmctive distillation of wood for many years until the 1930s and early 1940s, when the economics became more favorable for methanol manufacture from fossil fuel-derived synthesis gas. 

Uses. The principal uses of NaBH are ia synthesis of pharmaceuticals (qv) and fine organic chemicals removal of trace impurities from bulk organic chemicals wood-pulp bleaching, clay leaching, and vat-dye reductions and removal and recovery of trace metals from plant effluents. 

Pyrolysis ofVegetals. Many pubhcations concern the synthesis of dihydroxybenzenes by wood, lignites, and tree bark pyrolysis (61). The selective extraction of these compounds in low concentration from the cmde mixture remains a significant problem. So far, the price of the extraction overcomes the advantage of starting from a cheap starting material. 

X5lenol is an important starting material for insecticides, xylenol—formaldehyde resins, disinfectants, wood preservatives, and for synthesis of a-tocopherol (vitamin E) (258) and i7/-a-tocopherol acetate (USP 34-50/kg, October 1994). The Bayer insecticide Methiocarb is manufactured by reaction of 3,5-x5lenol with methylsulfenyl chloride to yield 4-methylmercapto-3,5-xylenol, followed by reaction with methyl isocyanate (257). Disinfectants and preservatives are produced by chlorination to 4-chloro- and 2,4-dich1oro-3,5-dimethylpheno1 (251). 

Methanol [67-56-1] (methyl alcohol), CH OH, is a colorless Hquid at ambient temperatures with a mild, characteristic alcohol odor. Originally called wood alcohol siace it was obtained from the destmctive distillation of wood, today commercial methanol is sometimes referred to as synthetic methanol because it is produced from synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon oxides, generated by a variety of sources. 

S. R. Seagle and J. R. Wood, in F. Froes and T. Khan, eds.. Synthesis, Processing and Modeling of Advanced Materials, Trans Tech PubHcations, Aedermaimsdorf, Swit2erland, 1993, p. 91. 

Occurrence. Carbon monoxide is a product of incomplete combustion and is not likely to result where a flame bums in an abundant air supply, yet may result when a flame touches a cooler surface than the ignition temperature of the gas. Gas or coal heaters in the home and gas space heaters in industry have been frequent sources of carbon monoxide poisoning when not provided with effective vents. Gas heaters, though properly adjusted when installed, may become hazardous sources of carbon monoxide if maintained improperly. Automobile exhaust gas is perhaps the most familiar source of carbon monoxide exposure. The manufacture and use of synthesis gas, calcium carbide manufacture, distillation of coal or wood, combustion operations, heat treatment of metals, fire fighting, mining, and cigarette smoking represent additional sources of carbon monoxide exposure (105—107). 

Its appeal Hes in the fact that synthesis gas can be produced from trash, municipal sewage, scrap wood, sawdust, newsprint, or other waste. The early work of Fischer and Tropsch on methanol synthesis showed that ethanol could be obtained in the process (165) and that by certain modifications the proportion of ethanol in the product could be increased (166). The Hterature concerning this method is extensive (167—176). The conditions that favor ethanol formation are 125—175°C and 1.42 MPa (14 atm) in the presence of reduction catalysts such as powdered iron. 

By far the preponderance of the 3400 kt of current worldwide phenolic resin production is in the form of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) reaction products. Phenol and formaldehyde are currently two of the most available monomers on earth. About 6000 kt of phenol and 10,000 kt of formaldehyde (100% basis) were produced in 1998 [55,56]. The organic raw materials for synthesis of phenol and formaldehyde are cumene (derived from benzene and propylene) and methanol, respectively. These materials are, in turn, obtained from petroleum and natural gas at relatively low cost ([57], pp. 10-26 [58], pp. 1-30). Cost is one of the most important advantages of phenolics in most applications. It is critical to the acceptance of phenolics for wood panel manufacture. With the exception of urea-formaldehyde resins, PF resins are the lowest cost thermosetting resins available. In addition to its synthesis from low cost monomers, phenolic resin costs are often further reduced by extension with fillers such as clays, chalk, rags, wood flours, nutshell flours, grain flours, starches, lignins, tannins, and various other low eost materials. Often these fillers and extenders improve the performance of the phenolic for a particular use while reducing cost. 

There has been only one major use for ozone today in the field of chemical synthesis the ozonation of oleic acid to produce azelaic acid. Oleic acid is obtained from either tallow, a by-product of meat-packing plants, or from tall oil, a byproduct of making paper from wood. Oleic acid is dissolved in about half its weight of pelargonic acid and is ozonized continuously in a reactor with approximately 2 percent ozone in oxygen it is oxidized for several hours. The pelargonic and azelaic acids are recovered by vacuum distillation. The acids are then esterified to yield a plasticizer for vinyl compounds or for the production of lubricants. Azelaic acid is also a starting material in the production of a nylon type of polymer. 

Methanol was originally produced by the destructive distillation of wood (wood alcohol) for charcoal production. Currently, it is mainly produced from synthesis gas. 

In addition lo its use in making resins and adhesives, phenol is also the starting material for the synthesis of chlorinated phenols and the food preservatives BHT (butylated hvdroxytoiuene) and BHA (butylated bydroxyanisole). Penta-chlorophenol, a widely used wood preservative, is prepared by reaction of phenol with excess CI2- The herbicide 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetjc acid) is prepared from 2,4-dichlorophenol, and the hospital antiseptic agent hexa-chlorophene is prepared from 2,4,5-trichlorophenol. 

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