The hemicellulose (wood polysaccharides) found in wood shows huge potential

"Hemicellulose, or wood polysaccharides, makes up 1/4 of spruce wood; researchers have a major task ahead to be able to utilise them to the same extent as, for example, lignin and wood fibres," says Mamata Bhattarai, a researcher at Aalto University (Finland).

As a natural stabiliser, hemicellulose could potentially 'fit into' (be used in) the food, pharmaceutical, and packaging industries. Wood hemicellulose, which is also referred to here and there, for example in North America, as spruce chewing gum, is obtained as a by-product of cellulose production.

For example, to obtain a homogeneous emulsion by mixing oil with water, a stabiliser is required. Some stabilisers have been well-known to us for a long time – acacia gum, guar gum, locust bean gum. These now common additives could be replaced by wood hemicellulose.