by autohydrolysis or prehydrolysis, deliduous woods are a good source of xylose. In Finland, and also in united states, xylose so obtained is crystallized as a product, most of it being further hydrogenated to xylitol. Xylitol is a sweetener which is said to suppress dental decay, and it is widely used in chewing gum. Xylose is also dehydrated to furfural in a few industrail installations. Furfural is used in oil refining and in furane rasins. Hemicellulose solutions are also evaporated to form wood molasses, which is used as a flavouring agent and binder in animal feed.