Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the recovery of organic substances dissolved or brought into a colloid form during the manufacture of a mechanical pulp where said mechanical pulp has not been subject to previous alkaline bleaching or other previous process carried out under alkaline conditions. The method is characterized in the deacetylation of the galactoglucomannans having been brought into dissolved or colloidal form during the pulping process, and subsequent deposition of said deacetylated glucomannans onto a solid phase, such as pulp fibers or organic or inorganic additives. The deacetylation is performed either by alkali or enzymatically. The method diminishes the organic substance loading on recycling waters and effluents, and improves the yield and strength properties of the pulp.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for converting biopolyesters consisting of straight-chain hydroxyacid monomers containing 10 to 40 carbon atoms, such as suberin and cutin, into a plain mixture of organic acids and their salts containing only a few main components. The depolymerization is carried out according to the invention by oxidizing either with a strong oxidizer or by dehydrating oxidation with strong alkali at elevated temperature.