Some Observations Regarding the Status of the Wood-Distillation Industry

Diminishing supplies of raw materials at prices Permitting profitable operation, as well as dwindling markets for distillation products, have caused a decrease in the number of wood-distillation plants. The capacity of the hardwood distillation plants is now less than half of what it was 20 years ago. The main products of hardwood distillation are acetic acid, methanol, and charcoal. Only 12 to 14 percent of the total acetic acid production in the United States is based on wood distillation, and only 5 to 6 percent of the total methanol volume is obtained from wood distillation. Uses for large tonnages of charcoal have been lost to coke and other carbons that have displaced charcoal to a substantial degree in the chemical field. The problems of the resinous wood distillation industry are of a similar nature. Investigations of continuous carbonization methods, mechanization of wood handling, and the development of wider markets for charcoal are suggested to improve the condition of the distillation industry.

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