Cellulose Yields from Decayed Wood of Western Hemlock

Because of the large volumes of decayed western hemlock wood available in British Columbia forests a small laboratory study was undertaken to assess the potential quantity of cellulose available from western hemlock wood decayed by Echinodontiumtinctorium. Alpha cellulose and holocellulose yields were determined for a total of 57 wood samples from five trees. On the basis of these limited investigations it appears that holocellulose and alpha cellulose yields from western hemlock wood decayed by E. tinctorium should be nearly equivalent to yields obtained from equal volumes of soundwood. Further investigation of cellulose yields from decayed wood is warranted.