THE MECHANISM OF THE ALKALINE DELIGNIFICATION OF WOOD

Abstract
Measurement was made of the rate of delignification of sprucewood with lithium, barium, sodium, potassium, and tetra-ethyl ammonium hydroxides under closely controlled conditions of temperature and concentration. The reaction rates were compared with the ionic mobilities and adsorption coefficients of the different alkalis. Methanol, ethanol, and glycerol were used as solvents.From these results a mechanism is suggested, according to which adsorption of alkali at the reaction interface is the determining factor in setting the rate of delignification. The rate is also dependent on the specific nature of the alkali cation and varies with the temperature in accordance with the general theory of thermal activation.

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