Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S42620/01
Title:	Utilising timber residues as a source of process chemicals
Principal Investigator:	Hill, Professor CAS
Other Investigators:	English, Dr R Fowler, Dr P
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	A W Jenkinson BSW Timber Plc Forestry Commission Scotland Shotton Paper Co plc
Department:	Sch of Environment and Natural Resources
Organisation:	Bangor University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 November 2003	Ends:	28 February 2006	Value (£):	118,298
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Design of Process systems Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Wood can be used as a source of chemicals, of which the most interesting commercially are hemicelluloses. There is not at present a satisfactory process to derive hemicelluloses from wood, This project is concerned with developing a process for deriving hemicelluloses from Sitka spruce Particularly small diameter roundwood), although the methods to be developed are generic. Considerable quantities of timber derived from this species are appearing on the market at a time when traditional markets in the paper and panel products sector are in decline. Since hemicelluloses are intimately bound within the cell wall, mechanical techniques for disrupting the cell wall provide the most likely method for using an environmentally friendly extraction technique. The research outlined in this proposal is concerned with developing methods for extracting, the characterisation of and finding markets for these hemicelluloses. Other products which can potentially be derived from these processes are tannins (from bark), cellulose for dissolving pulp and high absorbency materials. The work will concentrate primarily on those products which will command a high market price in order that a realistic and commercially attractive process can be developed. Such work will form the basis of a potentially huge silvichemicals industry. It is however to be noted that many processes to derive chemicals from wood are not at present economically competitive with petrochemically derived alternatives, hence the need to concentrate on hemicelluloses.
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Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.bangor.ac.uk