Distillation du bois

Abstract

THE general treatment in this work is on somewhat similar lines to that followed in recent British and American text-books on the subject. Special attention is given to the distillation of resinous woods, and an interesting account of wood distillation plants is included, the text being made clear with numerous diagrams. There is a certain lack of proportion in the presentation of facts. Nearly one-third of the book is given over to ah account, such as is available in numerous organic text-books, of the elementary chemistry of acetic acid and methyl alcohol, and of simple derivatives of these, yet the study of the gaseous products from the thermal decomposition of wood is intentionally neglected. Again, the analytical section is considerably restricted. The space occupied by this important subject is only half that given to the preparation and properties of formaldehyde, and it is doubtful if the meagre information therein contained will be of much real value to the analyst. Distillation du bois. Par Prof. G. Dupont. (Encyclopédie Léauté, 2e série.) Pp. xv + 284. (Paris: Gauthier-Villars et Cie; Masson et Cie, 1924.) 25 francs.