ABSTRACT
Wood is the secondary xylem in the stems of trees. It provides a strong skeleton for the whole structure of the tree, supporting foliage and optimizing light interception for carbon uptake and growth. At the same time, the surface parts of xylem (sapwood) transfer water and nutrients to the foliage and other growing tissues. The properties of wood are characterized by structural tissues, which are widely used in manufacturing wooden items and materials or used in construction in the form of sawn timber, plywood, etc. Wood is further a composite of cellulose and lignin, which can be decomposed into cellulose, lignin and other compounds in chemical pulping for the manufacture of paper and related products. Wood is widely used throughout the world as solid fuel, even in developed and industrialized countries. Wood is also used as a raw material, producing chemicals for different purposes, including liquid fuels for heating and transportation.
