Effect of the Brazilian thermal modification process on the chemical composition of Eucalyptus grandis juvenile wood: Part 1: Cell wall polymers and extractives contents

• Published in: Maderas Vol. 18; no. ahead; pp. 273 - 284
• Main Authors: Batista, Djeison Cesar, Bolzón de Muñiz, Graciela Ines, da Silva Oliveira, José Tarcísio, Paes, Juarez Benigno, Nisgoski, Silvana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad del Bío-Bío 2016
• Subjects: Extractives content; holocellulose; insoluble lignin; MATERIALS SCIENCE, PAPER & WOOD; VAP HolzSysteme; VAP HolzSysteme; insoluble lignin; Extractives content; holocellulose
• ISSN: 0718-221X; 0717-3644; 0718-221X
• DOI: 10.4067/S0718-221X2016005000025

This article reports the first study of the influence of the Brazilian process of thermal modification called VAP HolzSysteme® on the chemical composition of Eucalyptus wood. Flatsawn boards of Eucalyptus grandis juvenile wood were tested for four treatment levels: untreated and thermally modified at final cycle temperatures of 140, 160 and 180 °C. Chemical analyses were carried out according to the standards of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and encompassed total extractives, insoluble lignin, holocellulose (cellulose + hemicelluloses) and solvent soluble extractives in water (cold and hot) and ethanol:toluene (1:2 v.v.) mixture. The chemical composition of thermally modified Eucalyptus grandis juvenile wood was significantly changed by the VAP HolzSysteme® process compared to untreated wood. Only the wood thermally modified at final cycle temperature of 180 °C was significantly different for all the chemical analyses performed compared to untreated wood.