Abstract:
By treating paper, newsprint, and other waste cellulosic materials with an acidic fire retardant chemical the product spectrum formed during ensuing pyrolysis of the treated materials is reduced from approximately 60 compounds, none of which is produced in amounts justifying recovery, to a small number of principal products, including water, acetic acid, furfural, 5methyl-2-furfural and a compound produced in relatively large amounts which has been identified as 1,5-anhydro-3,4-dideoxyDelta 3- Beta -D-pyranosen-2-one. The latter compound has utility as a precursor to synthetic resins and surfactants and can be converted by oxidation to the novel compound, 1,5-anhydro-3,4dihydroxy- Delta 3- Beta -D-pyranosen-2-one.