| dc.description.abstract | The aims of this work were to investigate the impact of the heat treatment on
the chemical composition (holocellulose, lignin and extractives) of different
wood species, to characterise and quantify wood extractives and their
composition by GC-MS analysis, to explore the effect of thermo vacuum
process on the extractives content and composition, and to use molybdenum
catalysts in order to increase the amount of recoverable extractives.
The results showed that there was an increase in the amount of lignin and
extractives, and a decrease in the amount of holocellulose following thermo
treatment, in the treatment temperature function.
Autoclave treatment of wood with water in the presence of some molybdenum
catalysts can increase the amount of extracts, mostly in the presence of
microcrystalline H3PMo12O40, but it reduces solubility. Soxhlet extraction of
wood with ethanol/toluene mixture in the presence of H3PMo12O40 increased
the amount of extractives and their solubility in chloroform, while in the
presence of MoO3 only the solubility of extractives increased.
GC-MS analysis of insoluble fraction showed the presence of myo-inositol and
some simple carbohydrates, mainly ribose, xylose and glucose. GC-MS
analysis of soluble fraction showed the presence of long-chain acids and fatty
acid esters of 10-20 carbon atoms, mainly decanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid,
and octadecanoic acid, which can be a source of fatty acids for biodiesel
production.
Following the heat treatment and the use of molybdenum catalysts, the
increased amount of extractives allowed to obtain valuable amounts of
biological and pharmaceutical active compounds.
Furthermore, a new system for the complete separation of triglycerides and
fatty acids of wood extractives has been developed: two-dimensional TLC
through esterification with NaOCH3 and the use of AgNO3-TLC. [edited by Author] | it_IT |
