Aromatic hydroxy sulfonate derivatives and products and processes of making the same

Claim 1

A WATER-SOLUBLE COMPOSITION COMPRISING ALKALI SULFONIC ACID SALTS OF LOW-METHOXY HYDROXY AROMATIC POLYMERIC COMPOUNDS AND INORGANIC ALKALI SALTS RESULTING FROM DIGESTING WESTER HEMLOCK BARK IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A SALT OF SULFUROUS ACID OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE SALTS OF AMMONIUM, SODIUM AND POTASSIUM SULFITE AND BISULFITE AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 50*C. TO 200*C., MAINTAINING SAID SALT OF SULFUROUS ACID IN THE SOLUTION DURING DIGESTION, SAID DIGESTION BEING CONTINUED UNTIL MOST OF THE SULFUROUS ACID RADICAL OF THE SALT OF SULFUROUS ACID IS CONSUMED IN FORMING THE WATER-SOLUBLE COMPOSITION, AND SEPARATING FROM THE BARK IN THE AQUEOUS SOLUTION THE ALKALI SULFONIC ACID SALTS OF LOW-METHOXY HYDROXY AROMATIC PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS.