OXALIC ACID. 



555 



will thus become valuable. Ydarek* gives the following 

 table : 



Simonsen found that cellulose yields 42'7 per cent., saw- 

 dust 22'5 per cent., of sugar. The cellulose in wood is con- 

 verted into sugar more easily than isolated cellulose; 100 

 kilos of sawdust yield 6*5 kilos of pure alcohol. 



(c) Oxalic Acid! is prepared from wood. For this any 

 minute pieces of wood, such as sawdust, is suitable. Owing 

 to the extensive use of oxalic acid in dyes and in calico- 

 printing, its preparation forms an important industry. 



The sawdust is mixed with a double solution of caustic 

 lime and caustic soda and is heated up to 240 in shallow 

 vessels. The resulting greenish-yellow mass is mixed in the 

 water in which oxalate of soda remains dissolved until the 

 water is cooled ; the salt is precipitated by sulphuric acid in 

 the form of gypsum and oxalic acid. 



[(d) Bamboo-fibre. Mr. J. S. Owden states that fine 

 bamboo fibres are prepared in the West Indies, which, spun 

 with wool in the ratio of 1 : 2, yield very strong cloth. 

 Bamboo-fibre is also used as paper-pulp, and for packing the 

 axle-boxes of American railway -carriages. Tr.] 



* "Austrian F. u. Jagdzeiting." V.MIO. 



) Bersch ascribes the success of their industry chiefly to Dr. Thorn. 



