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Forests
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Methods and New Technologies for Wood Modification
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Methods and New Technologies for Wood Modification

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Wood Science and Forest Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2021) | Viewed by 16008

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Llano-Ponte Alvarez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country, Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Interests: natural composite material; biorefenery process; new products; forest and agriculture residue; wood; wood modification
Dr. Jalel Labidi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country, Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Interests: biomass biorefinery; wood based products; biobased composites; nanocellulose modification; lignin; lignin nanoparticles; coating formulation; LCA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests offer a wide range of biomasses (wood and non-wood), in addition to intangible cultural and ecological benefits, and require sustainable forest management practices. Therefore, in an effort for smart silvicultural reforestation and cutting plans, we need an intelligent forest product chain that will enable the exploitation of all biomasses, timber in particular.

Wood biomass is currently used in many different value chains, from wood-based products and materials to biochemical and bioenergy, and various industrial sectors. However, despite the growing attention of previous years, the cascade usage of this bioresource has not yet been optimized.

In this Special Issue we aim to present the most recent developments in the field of biomass valorization, with a particular focus on wood. The overall objective of this issue is to extend the lifespan of different bio-sourced materials so that the carbon fixed in their structure will be kept as long as possible, before it inevitably goes back into the air as carbon dioxide.

Extending the service life of bio-based products is, at present, the best way to fight climate change. It also has the advantage of reducing the need for other materials. Therefore, in this collection, we encourage submissions dealing with the following topics:

New applications for bio-based forest products;

Thermal modifications of bioresources;

Wood modification and preservation;

Environmental impact of wood modification;

Life cycle assessments and circular economy studies.

Prof. Rodrigo Llano-Ponte Alvarez
Dr. Jalel Labidi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Bio-based forest products
  • Bioresources
  • Wood modification
  • Wood preservation

Published Papers (6 papers)

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13 pages, 747 KiB  
Article
Extraction Methods and Their Influence on Yield When Extracting Thermo-Vacuum-Modified Chestnut Wood
by Maurizio D’Auria, Marisabel Mecca, Maria Roberta Bruno and Luigi Todaro
Forests 2021, 12(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12010073 - 10 Jan 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2125
Abstract
Improvements in the yield and solubility of chestnut wood extractives, by using different extraction methods and molybdenum catalysts as support, have rarely been reported in literature. Many studies focus on the different parts of trees, except for the chemical characteristics of the remaining [...] Read more.
Improvements in the yield and solubility of chestnut wood extractives, by using different extraction methods and molybdenum catalysts as support, have rarely been reported in literature. Many studies focus on the different parts of trees, except for the chemical characteristics of the remaining extractives achieved from thermally modified (THM) chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill) wood. This research seeks to better understand the effects of extraction techniques and catalysts on the yield and solubility of extractives. GC-MS analysis of the chloroform soluble and insoluble fractions was also used. Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) 110 °C, Soxhlet, and autoclave extraction techniques were used to obtain extractives from untreated and thermally modified (THM) chestnut wood (170 °C for 3 h). Ethanol/H2O, ethanol/toluene, and water were the solvents used for each technique. A polyoxometalate compound (H3PMo12O40) and MoO3 supported on silica were used as catalysts. The THM induced a change in the wood’s surface color (ΔE = 21.5) and an increase in mass loss (5.9%), while the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) was reduced by 17.4% compared to the control wood. The yields of the extractives and their solubility were always higher in THM and mainly used ASE as the technique. GC-MS analysis of the extractives, without catalyst support, showed different results for each extraction technique and type of wood (untreated and THM). Ultimately, the amount of extractive compound dissolved in each solvent will differ, and the choice of extraction technique will depend on the intended final application of the extracted chemical product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Methods and New Technologies for Wood Modification)
16 pages, 3194 KiB  
Article
Hydrophobization and Photo-Stabilization of Radiata Pinewood: The Effect of the Esterification on Thermal and Mechanical Properties
by René Herrera Díaz, Oihana Gordobil, Pedro L. de Hoyos-Martinez, Anna Sandak and Jalel Labidi
Forests 2020, 11(12), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11121243 - 24 Nov 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1973
Abstract
Wood protection through chemical modification has received increasing interest over the last decades due to the environmental issues related to conventional biocides or protecting products. Consequently, a wide range of new treatments are developed in laboratories, which are later scaled up in the [...] Read more.
Wood protection through chemical modification has received increasing interest over the last decades due to the environmental issues related to conventional biocides or protecting products. Consequently, a wide range of new treatments are developed in laboratories, which are later scaled up in the industrial environment. The main goal of modifying wood for indoor–outdoor application is to change its hydrophilic character, which in turn improves the intrinsic properties of the material and its durability against external factors. Wood can be esterified through its hydroxyl groups to obtain a hydrophobic and photo-stable material. Chemical modifications of Pinus radiata D. Don wood using hexanoyl chloride (P6), dodecanoyl chloride (P12), and stearoyl chloride (P18) were carried out at different concentrations. Esterification was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) technique combined with a discriminatory analysis. Weight percent gain was associated with the number of carbons of the aliphatic chain of the fatty acid (P6 > P12 > P18). Moreover, an increase of wood density as a consequence of modification treatments was observed. A substantial improvement of the hydrophobicity of wood was observed by dynamic contact angle measurements. In addition, the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on color changes was reduced with the treatments. Furthermore, the P6 treatment presented acceptable values of modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), being suitable for similar mechanical uses as non-treated pinewood. However, only treatments P12 and P18 enhanced thermal resistance of the pinewood in an oxidative atmosphere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Methods and New Technologies for Wood Modification)
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11 pages, 2016 KiB  
Article
Termite Resistance of a Fast-Growing Pine Wood Treated by In Situ Polymerization of Three Different Precursors
by Andrey Pereira Acosta, Jalel Labidi, Kelvin Techera Barbosa, Nidria Cruz, Rafael de Avila Delucis and Darci Alberto Gatto
Forests 2020, 11(8), 865; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11080865 - 08 Aug 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3066
Abstract
This study aims to compare the resistance against subterranean termites of wood–polymer composites produced by in situ polymerization. The biological tests were carried out by choice and no-choice feeding tests. Poly (furfuryl alcohol), poly(styrene) and poly (methyl methacrylate) were studied here. They were [...] Read more.
This study aims to compare the resistance against subterranean termites of wood–polymer composites produced by in situ polymerization. The biological tests were carried out by choice and no-choice feeding tests. Poly (furfuryl alcohol), poly(styrene) and poly (methyl methacrylate) were studied here. They were impregnated into a Brazilian fast-growing pine wood using a vacuum:pressure method and then cured under simple heating. These treatments were evaluated using chemical (by infrared spectroscopy) and morphological (by scanning electron microscopy) analyses. The termite attack was evaluated by mass loss determination and photography. In general, all the treatments were effective in protecting the fast-growing pine wood. Results obtained by no-choice tests indicated that the treatment solution with 75% of furfuryl alcohol was less effective than the others, which indicates that both choice and no-choice tests may be important in a comprehensive study on the termites resistance of solid woods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Methods and New Technologies for Wood Modification)
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9 pages, 4959 KiB  
Article
Effects of Microwave Treatment on Microstructure of Chinese Fir
by Xiang Weng, Yongdong Zhou, Zongying Fu, Xin Gao, Fan Zhou and Feng Fu
Forests 2020, 11(7), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11070772 - 19 Jul 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2185
Abstract
Microwave (MW) treatment is an effective method to increase refractory wood permeability, thereby reducing drying time and defects. The extent of modification depends on the damage extent of the wood microstructure. In this study, MW intensities of 43 kWh/m3 (low intensity) and [...] Read more.
Microwave (MW) treatment is an effective method to increase refractory wood permeability, thereby reducing drying time and defects. The extent of modification depends on the damage extent of the wood microstructure. In this study, MW intensities of 43 kWh/m3 (low intensity) and 57 kWh/m3(high intensity) were adopted to treat Chinese fir lumber. Microstructural changes in wood samples were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pore structure was characterized using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Results were as follows: After low-intensity MW treatment, parts of the bordered pit membranes in tracheids were damaged, and micro-fibrils on the margo were ruptured, while the torus basically remained intact. Micro-cracks were observed at both ends of the cross-field pit apertures, propagating to the cell walls of tracheids. The middle lamellar between ray parenchyma cells and longitudinal tracheids cracked, and the width of cracks was in the range of 1–25 μm. After high-intensity MW treatment, damage to the wood microstructure was more severe than that in the low-intensity MW treatment, with macro-cracks having a width range of 100–130 μm being generated. In addition, on the fracture surface of macro-cracks, the bordered pit membranes in tracheids fell off, cross-field pit membranes disappeared and the ray parenchyma cells were seriously damaged, exhibiting fracture of the tracheid walls. Both low-intensity and high-intensity MW treatment can increase the pore diameter corresponding to the margo capillaries (peak value increased from 674.7 nm to 831.8 nm and 1047.6 nm, respectively). The number of pores in the tracheid lumen diameter range also significantly increased. These results provide a theoretical support forMW treatment processes’ improvement and high-value utilization of Chinese fir. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Methods and New Technologies for Wood Modification)
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10 pages, 1904 KiB  
Article
Thermochemical and Mechanical Properties of Pine Wood Treated by In Situ Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)
by Andrey Pereira Acosta, Jalel Labidi, Henrique Römer Schulz, Ezequiel Gallio, Kelvin Techera Barbosa, Rafael Beltrame, Rafael de Avila Delucis and Darci Alberto Gatto
Forests 2020, 11(7), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11070768 - 17 Jul 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2703
Abstract
The impregnation of low-molecular-weight monomers prior to polymerize them inside the wood may be an efficient way to improve some important wood properties. This work aimed to determine some technological properties of wood-based composites (WPC) produced by in situ polymerization, using a pine [...] Read more.
The impregnation of low-molecular-weight monomers prior to polymerize them inside the wood may be an efficient way to improve some important wood properties. This work aimed to determine some technological properties of wood-based composites (WPC) produced by in situ polymerization, using a pine wood (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) impregnated with methyl methacrylate (MMA). For that, samples taken from both juvenile (JV) and mature (MT) pine woods were treated with MMA. Physical, mechanical, chemical, thermal and morphological features were evaluated. MMA-treated woods from both juvenile and mature woods presented superior physical, mechanical (expect brittleness) and thermal properties when compared to pristine ones. The infrared spectra and morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the presence of the monomer inside the pine wood. The juvenile wood presented higher treatability than the mature wood, due to its higher content of intra- and inter-cellular spaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Methods and New Technologies for Wood Modification)
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10 pages, 3907 KiB  
Article
Paraffin Pickering Emulsion Stabilized with Nano-SiO2 Designed for Wood Impregnation
by Runhao Liu, Xinyao Liu, Yuting Zhang, Junjia Liu, Chengxi Gong, Youming Dong, Jianzhang Li, Jingbo Shi and Miao Wu
Forests 2020, 11(7), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11070726 - 02 Jul 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3009
Abstract
Wax impregnation is an effective approach to improve wood water resistance. However, melted waxes require special equipment and cannot penetrate deep enough into wood. Recently, wax emulsions show excellent efficiency in wood modification. In this study, paraffin Pickering emulsion stabilized by low dispersed [...] Read more.
Wax impregnation is an effective approach to improve wood water resistance. However, melted waxes require special equipment and cannot penetrate deep enough into wood. Recently, wax emulsions show excellent efficiency in wood modification. In this study, paraffin Pickering emulsion stabilized by low dispersed SiO2 nanospheres was used to impregnate poplar wood. The microstructure and storage stability of the emulsion were evaluated. The dimensional stability, water uptake, wettability, and thermal stability of treated wood were also investigated. After homogenization, a milk-white oil-in-water (O/W) paraffin Pickering emulsion stabilized by the nano-SiO2 (diameter of ~76 nm) was formed and demonstrated excellent storage stability. Paraffin Pickering emulsion could penetrate into the wood structure. The emulsion-treated wood was endowed with a moderate anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), high water resistance, and low wettability. Moreover, the addition of nano-SiO2 could improve the thermal stability of the treated wood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Methods and New Technologies for Wood Modification)
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