Abstract: A technique for degrading a chemical warfare poison gas to render it innocuous. The toxic compound to be so treated is conducted through a reactor containing an anhydrous liquid halide which acts as a catalyst to degrade the toxic compound without yielding toxic effluents. The liquid halide is reclaimed and reintroduced into the reactor whereas the benign breakdown by-products are routed to other uses.

Abstract: A process for converting wood stock or other cellulosic material into charcoal, use being made for this purpose of liquid anhydrous hydrogen chloride at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: A method for effecting saccharification of raw cellulosic material taken from any available source. In the first step, the raw material is immersed in a caustic solution which swells the cellular structure to render it more reactive and acts to solubilize the lignins and other compounds contained therein, these being washed away to provide a prepared cellulosic material. In the second step, the prepared material is subjected to a viscose process to produce a viscous solution of sodium cellulose xanthate in sodium hydroxide, from which solution the aqueous phase is separated to provide a viscose intermediate. In the final step, the viscose intermediate is hydrolyzed by immersing it in a bath of anhydrous liquid hydrogen chloride to yield usable glucose and other products.