Polysaccharides from Larch Biomass

Abstract

There are two species of the genus Larix Mill, Larix sibirica Ledeb. (Figure 1) and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr., considered to be the most abundant trees in the Russian Federation: the total stock of their wood exceeds 26 billion m3. Traditionally, the main economic value of larch wood consists of the manufacture of roundwood (timber), the value of which is connected with the high quality of lumber from this breed of tree. Larch wood can sometimes be used in insignificant quantities in pulp-and-paper manufacture to obtain pulp. About 40% of this valuable breed (as bark, sawdust) enters waste through existing lumber manufacturing processes. Such an irrational approach to the development of larch wood does not allow exploitation of the richest potential of the given renewed source. Meanwhile, biologically active compounds contained in larch biomass can be used for the manufacture of products for medical, food and agricultural purposes with maximal benefit. The development of complex technology for chemical processing of larch biomass and waste timber will considerably raise the economic value of this biological resource.