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Abstract

A process for producing isopropyl alcohol and useful by-products from cellulosic substrates without utilizing toxic acids. This process comprises the steps of: (1) digesting cellulosic substrates in a heated solution of sodium carbonate; (2) digesting the cellulosic product of step (1) in a heated solution containing isopropyl alcohol or aluminum isopropylate together with sodium acetate and optionally, acetic acid, to produce a biomass and a black liquid of saturated acyclic hydrocarbons; (3) mixing the biomass of step (2) with amylolytic enzymes or with xylophagous bacteria to initiate fermentation of the biomass; (4) adding the black liquid of step (2) together with basic aluminate acetate and a mixture of formaldehyde and phenol or sulfonated phenol to the mixture of step (3) and heating the resulting mixture to a temperature ranging between 120.degree. to 160.degree. C. under a pressure ranging between 1.5 and 45 kg/cm.sup.2 until isopropyl alcohol is produced.

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