Pulping catalysts in trees

Several hardwood and softwood trees were analyzed for anthraquinone-type co mponents. Wood samples were reduced to a small size and extracted with an o rganic solvent; the extracts were then concentrated and analyzed by gas chr omatography-mass spectroscopy. Low levels of AQ and anthrone components wer e detected using a sensitive selected-ion monitoring technique. Ten out of seventeen hardwood samples examined contained AQ-type components; however, the levels were typically below similar to 6 ppm. Such components were not observed for the few softwood samples that were examined. The AQs were more concentrated in the heartwood of teak than in the sapwood. Extraction of c ottonwood with an organic solvent had little effect on the ease of pulping of the wood.