Hemicelluloses: Science and Technology

Produced by the majority of trees and terrestrial plants, hemicelluloses (a set of polysaccharides) are the most abundant form of polymer after cellulose. Seeing hemicelluloses as an important yet neglected renewable resource that can move us beyond the petrochemical economy, Gatenholm (Chalmers U. of Technology, Sweden) and Tenkanen (U. of Helsinki, Finland) present 23 papers examining the chemical properties of hemicelluloses, as well as modifications and applications. Papers discuss isolation and characterization, analytical methods, molecular architecture and assembly, and interactions with cellulose. Distributed by Oxford U. Press. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).