Abstract: Provided is a process for chemically modifying wood or non-wood comprising: (a) impregnating said wood or non-wood with an aqueous composition comprising an acid polymerization catalyst; (b) impregnating the wood or non-wood product from step (a) with 3-furfuryl borate (‘3-FB’); and (c) subjecting the wood product from (b) for a time and under conditions to affect polymerization of the 3-FB. Modified wood and non-wood products are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a process for chemically modifying wood or non-wood comprising: (a) impregnating said wood or non-wood with an aqueous composition comprising an acid polymerisation catalyst; (b) impregnating the wood or non-wood product from step (a) with 3-furfuryl borate (‘3-FB’); and (c) subjecting the wood product from (b) for a time and under conditions to affect polymerisation of the 3-FB. Modified wood and non-wood products are also provided.

Abstract: A process for treating wood comprising: a) impregnating the wood with a solution of furfuryl alcohol; b) allowing the impregnated wood to sit so as to permit diffusion of the furfuryl alcohol solution into the wood; and hot pressing the wood under conditions to effect polymerization of the furfuryl alcohol within the wood.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of furfural, furfuryl alcohol, low molecular weight phenols and/or cellulose or a cellulose-rich material from a lignocellulosic material comprising: feeding a carrier gas into a reaction chamber to facilitate a fluidised bed effect and to carry reaction products and residues away from the reactor via entrainment; introducing a feedstock comprising particulate lignocellulosic material of a predetermined particle size into the reaction chamber; degrading the feedstock in the reaction chamber under an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of from 250° C. to 320° C.; and quenching the degraded feedstock and carrier gas to deposit solid residue entrained in the carrier gas and to condense a liquid product.