"WillR" wrote in message
oups.com...
Organosolv pulping
Pulping process, which uses organic solvent, e.g. acid or alcohol, as
delignification/cooking chemical.
http://www.chempolis.com/terms.html


Not sure he has the science right, (exploding cells et al.) but if it
works, buy a bracelet, grin and bear it.


Yep, alcohol is used to _dehydrate_ cells for histological examination, too.
Note, this is not drying.

In these cases you reference, of course, alcohol is chosen as a solvent for
lignin because cellulose does not bind it as it does water, and it can
therefore be used as a solvent within a solvent. Your make the case well
that it "displaces" no water, which is one of the many incorrect
suppositions in the process as posted.