Introduction

Abstract

Cellulose is a versatile and renewable natural resource which has attracted increasing attention in the last decade, expecially after the energy crisis of 1973. Apart from its extensive use as a solid product, wood is the most important source of cellulose fibres for papermaking and is also widely used as a source of energy. The form and availability or the forest provides a great opportunity for technological improvement and innovation in the future to satisfy the foreseeable increasing demand for wood- based products. For example, North American sawmills and plywood mills presently recover only about 45 to 55% of logged wood while the remainder is disposed as waste, if it is not used in pulp manufacturing. In addition, top and branch wood, and logs from non-commercial species which are presently not recovered from the logging sites could provide an abundant and relatively inexpensive resource for the manufacture of composite products. Other valuable potential sources of cellulosic materials are waste paper and agricultural waste.