22 



The soluble matter is composed of the following parts: 



Composition of soluble portion. 



The composition of the samples, as determined by successive diges- 

 tion with, acid and alkali, and determination of the other ingredients 

 on a water-free basis, is shown by the following table: 



These data show that if the matters are treated with both alkali and 

 acid in preparing them for paper pulp they will yield of that material 

 only about one-third of their weight. On the other hand, when treated 

 by an alkali or acid alone they will yield about one-half of their weight 

 as paper pulp. 



KINDS AND QUANTITIES OF SUGARS FORMED. 



The sugars formed by hydrolysis with sulphuric acid are principally 

 (pentose) xylose and dextrose. The relative quantities of these sugars 

 are difficult to determine with exactness. A satisfactory approxima- 

 tion may, however, be secured. The quantity of dextrose formed on 

 hydrolysis may be determined with quite a degree of accuracy by fer- 

 mentation. Theoretically, dextrose should yield half its weight of 

 alcohol. Practically, in favorable condition for fermentation about 48 

 per cent of alcohol may be obtained. The conditions of fermentation 

 in the present instances were unfavorable by reason of the great dilu- 

 tion of the saccharine solution. We may assume, therefore, that the 

 dextrose present yielded only 40 per cent of its weight as alcohol. The 

 quantities of dextrose obtained by this method of calculation are given 

 in the following table: 



Results for alcohol and dextrose. 



