ASSESSMENT OF PINE AND SPRUCE WOOD PROPOR TIONS IN PULP PRODUCTION BYTHE ANALYSIS OF RESIN ACIDS

A convenient method to assess the proportions of pine and spruce wood in pulping processes is described. The method is based on the determin ation of pimaric acid and sandaracopimaric acid in wood, pulp or water samples by gas chromatography (GC). The ratio of pimaric acid to sand aracopimaric acid is very different in pines and spruces. As the two a cids are stereoisomers, their ratio is likely to remain constant durin g pulping and papermaking regardless of wood storage, process conditio ns, etc. A change in the ratio of pine to spruce wood will therefore b e reflected as a change in the ratio of pimaric acid to sandaracopimar ic acid.