Juniper Wood Research Articles

Chemically Pretreated Densification of Juniper Wood for Potential Use in Osteosynthesis Bone Implants.

The aim of the study was to perform treatment of juniper wood to obtain wood material with a density and mechanical properties comparable to bone, thus producing a potential material for use in osteosynthesis bone implants. In the first step, partial delignification of wood sample was obtained by Kraft cooking. The second step was extraction with ethanol, ethanol-water mixture, saline, and water to prevent the release of soluble compounds and increase biocompatibility. In the last step, the thermal densification at 100 °C for 24 h was implemented. The results obtained in the dry state are equivalent to the properties of bone. The swelling of chemically pre-treated densified wood was reduced compared to chemically untreated densified wood. Samples showed no cytotoxicity by in vitro cell assays. The results of the study showed that it is possible to obtain noncytotoxic wood samples with mechanical properties equivalent to bones by partial delignification, extraction, and densification. However, further research is needed to ensure the material's shape stability, water resistance, and reduced swelling.

Authentication of two eighteenth century juniper-containing drug remains by HPLC–MS/MS and GC–MS

Two historical remains of juniper-containing drugs, dating from the eighteenth century, were analyzed using two separation techniques with mass detection (HPLC–MS/MS and GC–MS). As reference material, replicates of one of these analyzed historical remains, juniper preserve, were prepared according to period recipes. Although the HPLC–MS/MS method was suitable for authenticating the origin of a drug prepared from juniper berries (i.e., juniper preserve), it proved unsuitable for a drug containing only juniper wood. In contrast, GC–MS was able to demonstrate that this drug did indeed contain juniper wood. Thus both studied samples were verified to be juniper-containing drugs. A remarkable stability of some glycosides was observed in the samples analyzed. The presence of viridiflorin was demonstrated for the first time in the juniper plant, and a detailed ESI+-MSn fragmentation of this substance was proposed.Graphical abstract

Biological resistance of Phoenician juniper wood

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the biological resistance of Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea L.) wood against two fungal species. Two sources of wood materials were used, one from a naturally grown population and the other from a cultivated area on the island of Syros in Cyclades, Greece. The study tested sapwood and heartwood from both sources against cultures of Coniophora puteana and Rhodonia placenta basidiomycetes. The heartwood from both sources was categorised as class 1: very durable, whereas the sapwood from both sources was classified as class 5: not durable due to their high susceptibility to both C. puteana and R. placenta. The mass loss of the heartwood showed only a small variation due to the activity of fungi, while the variability for sapwood was higher. Comparing the biological resistance of cultivated and natural J. phoenicea wood, no significant differences in their heartwood or sapwood were revealed.

Structural Characterization and Adsorption of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution by Using Modified Juniper Wood Powder

Structural Characterization and Adsorption of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution by Using Modified Juniper Wood Powder

The utilization and extinction of Juniper trees from the Negev desert (Israel) - Data from a late 6th–5th millennia site of Har Harif

The excavation of Har Harif 45, a campsite radiometrically dated to the 6th–5th millennia BCE, in the Negev highlands (Israel) uncovered many charcoals determined as Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea). Today, Phoenician juniper is absent from the Negev desert and can only be found on the ridges of northern Sinai (Egypt) and Jordan.Based on the relative abundance of polished stone axes and adzes found in Har Harif 45 in comparison to other contemporaneous sites, we suggest that the extinction of juniper trees from the Negev highlands was caused mainly by intensive and selective cutting of this highly beneficial woody species. On a wider view, the disappearance of Juniperus phoenicea from the Negev Desert provides a good example of human impact on the natural environment during the transition from hunter-gather societies to late Pottery Neolithic (and later periods of the 6th–5th millennia BC) pastoralist societies, where a greater population density increased the demand for natural resources such as juniper wood. We show that the archaeological evidence from Har Harif 45 combined with the archaeobotanical data sheds new light on the human influence on the Negev highland environment during the late 6th and 5th millennia BC.

Preliminary Study of Chemically Pretreated Densification of Juniper Wood for Use in Bone Implants

Kraft cooking of juniper wood with NaOH/Na2S aqueous solution has been used in the study for partial delignification at the temperature of 165°C for different residence time (0-40 min) following by thermal compression for densification under a pressure of 5 MPa at 100°C for 24 hours. The densified and natural juniper wood samples were characterized by chemical composition and mechanical properties. The results show that the density of densified juniper wood was increased by 96-127% reaching the value of 1170 kg/m3 that is similar to conventional bone implants (1090 kg/m3). Modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of densified juniper wood were increased by 85% and 621%, respectively, demonstrating a high potential of the material to be used as bone implants.

Phytosociological survey of juniper wood vegetation in Tajikistan (Middle Asia)

The paper presents the first syntaxonomic classification for juniper wood communities in Tajikistan with some remarks on their environmental gradients. A total of 119 relevés were sampled between 2015 and 2021 using the seven-degree Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance scale. They were classified by a modified TWINSPAN method. Diagnostic species were identified using phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was used to determine relationships between samples, vegetation units and major gradients in species composition. Plant communities have been divided into two main groups. The first one is a west Irano-Turanian wood of Juniperus polycarpos var. seravschanica of the Pamir-Alai mountane belt. It occurs in two variants depending mainly on the aspect and precipitation. The second juniper wood type in Tajikistan is a stand of Juniperus pseudosabina. It prefers the northern slopes and north-eastern ranges of the Pamir-Alai and slightly lower elevations. Both juniper wood types are highly distinct in terms of species composition, especially in the moss layer, and have therefore been assigned to different classes: Pino-Juniperetea (Juniperetum seravschanicae) and Juniperetea pseudosabinae (Carici turkestanicae-Juniperetum pseudosabinae). The main factors determining the species composition of the studied associations are latitude, growing season precipitation, annual range of air temperature and precipitation of coldest quarter. Our study has shown that there are two very distinct vegetation types of the juniper wood groves in Tajikistan, which reflect the main phytogeographical division between the provinces of Turkestan and Central Asia.

Древовидная форма можжевельника (Juniperus communis L.) в лесах Вологодской области

Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) is one of the most widespread undergrowth species in the forests of Russia. It has not only important silvicultural significance but is also widely used in economic activities. Numerous works of Russian and foreign authors are devoted to its study. The article shows the results of geobotanical and forest inventory studies of a unique area of pine plantation in the Kirillovskiy district of the Vologda region. In the second understorey of which tree-form common juniper grows. The stand was classified as high-density (relative fullness – 0.85) and low quality (quality class – V–IV). The total stock of trunk wood on the site is 280 m3/ha, including the stock of juniper wood – 28 m3/ha. The average diameter of juniper trunks is 14 cm, the average height is 11 m and the age is 180 yrs. This is several times higher than its usual parameters in other forests. A significant number of specimens of juniper (50 pcs/ha) are in the stage of drying out or have already died and represent dead wood of different years. The number of small and medium-sized juniper undergrowth is 1.5 ths pcs/ha or 62.5 % of the growing. Undergrowth of European spruce, downy birch and black alder is also found. The existing undergrowth is assessed as promising, but Scots pine undergrowth is missing. The ground cover is dominated by green and sphagnum mosses as well as shrubs of the Ericaceae and Vacciniaceae families. The study of such objects, extremely rare not only in the north of the European part of Russia, but also everywhere, is of great practical importance. It is also important for understanding the biology of the only representative of the Cupressaceae family that naturally grows here. The tree-form juniper in the pine plantation has survived and reached a size not typical for this species due to the inaccessibility of the site, the lack of fires and forest felling. Such forest areas should be identified, protected, and subjected to stationary research. For citation: Evdokimov I.V., Dobrynin A.P., Armeeva N.A. Tree Form of Juniper (Juniperus communis L.) in the Forests of the Vologda Region. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 5, pp. 201–209. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-5-201-209

Late glacial–postglacial North African landscape and forest management: Palynological and anthracological studies in the caves of Kaf Taht el-Ghar and El Khil (Tingitana Peninsula, Morocco)

This work presents the anthracological and archeopalynological results obtained within the project AGRIWESTMED (ERC AdG 230561), which has involved a comprehensive retrieval of archeobiological remains based on a systematic sampling strategy, beyond the recovery of the usual archeological materials. These surveys were conducted on three sites located in the North of Morocco: the cave of Kaf Taht-el-Ghar, 8 km southeast from Tetuan, and two caves within the El Khil complex, close to Tanger. Both plant micro- and macro-remains (charred wood) were studied through palynological and anthracological analyses, respectively.Our goal was to assess the vegetation composition of the area as well as the impact of human activities on the landscape. In Kaf Taht-el-Ghar the dynamics of vegetation and land use is recorded over the Paleolithic, Epipaleolithic, Neolithic and Historic times. Clear changes such as the demise of ancient Paleolithic pine and juniper woods during the Epipaleolithic and the subsequent spread of grasslands are shown. Other conifers like Abies pinsapo, Cedrus atlantica and Taxus baccata also disappeared from the pollen and charred wood records. In the palynological study, cereal and broad beans (Vicia faba) are already detected in the Early Neolithic, as well as a lowering of grazing pressure. Both cereal and broad beans, along with the development of grazing activities are also documented around El Khil caves since the Early Neolithic. Throughout the whole pollen and anthracological sequences a progressive retreat of the tree cover and an extensive spread of grasslands could be set as the main features of the vegetation dynamics in this area.

Miera y mereras de enebro (Juniperus oxycedrus L.) en Albacete

This article presents a study on the traditional use of the cade oil (miera in Spanish) and the cade oil ovens in the province of Albacete (Spain). Cade oil is the vegetable tar that is obtained by dry distillation of prickly juniper wood (Juniperus oxycedrus L.), used especially as a disinfectant by shepherds and ranchers. This process take place in specific ovens called mereras, miereras or miera ovens. These elements appear in various documentary sources, they are kept in the toponymy and even there are some ovens scattered in Albacete province, in different states of conservation.

Selective extraction of terpenoid compounds of Juniperus communis L. wood in the medium of a binary solvent (supercritical CO2 with modifier).

Juniperus communis L. is a wood species used in folk medicine since it has a variety of wood extractives with a wide range of pharmacological properties. The morphological features of juniper wood structure leads to the necessity for the application of activation, which facilitates extraction of wood extractives. The methods of thermochemical activation can be used to improve the existing schemes of extraction. This work aims to develop methods that increase the selectivity and efficiency of the extraction of pharmacological biologically active substances from the Juniperus communis wood. The thermochemical activation of the juniper wood matrix involves treatment by steam explosion and the use of supercritical fluid extraction methods. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify the components of the obtained extracts. It is shown that the supercritical fluid extraction by a binary solvent facilitates the extraction of the maximum amount of sesquiterpene and diterpene alcohols, terpene oxides and ketones. Extracts obtained during the two-stage process with the traditional extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus at the first stage and the supercritical fluid extraction at the second, contain squalene as the main component. The two-stage treatment with steam explosion at the first stage facilitates the extraction of the maximum amount of diterpene alcohols having the widest range of biological activity. The research demonstrates the prospects of application of the methods of thermochemical activation of plant raw materials for the extraction of the wide spectrum of terpene components.

COATING PERFORMANCES OF CRIMEAN JUNIPER (Juniperus excelsa M. BIEB.) WOOD

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to determine the varnish layer hardness and varnish adhesion strength of the varnished Crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) wood growing naturally in the Kastamonu region of Turkey. Test samples were varnished with UV-resistant polyurethane alkyd resin high gloss varnish (PAV) and water-based acrylic resin gloss varnish (WBAV). The varnish adhesion strength test was carried out by using universal testing machine. The varnish layer hardness was measured by using Konig pendulum hardness tester. Additionally, the colour properties were measured by spectrophotometer equipment that used the L*a*b* colour space. The adhesion strength of the polyurethane varnish and the water-based varnish were determined 2.81 MPa and 2.25 MPa respectively. Surface hardness value for water-based varnish and polyurethane varnish were determined 71 and 25 oscillation respectively. Detecting the performance of polyurethane and water-based varnish applications for the Crimean juniper wood will provide guidance in which type of varnish will be better for finishing. As a result, in varnish applications of the wood, it is recommended that water-based acrylic varnish should be applied when surface hardness is required. In addition, polyurethane alkyd varnish should be applied when better surface adhesion strength is desired.

Evaluation of cellular effects of fine particulate matter from combustion of solid fuels used for indoor heating on the Navajo Nation using a stratified oxidative stress response model

Communities in the Navajo Nation face public health burdens caused in part by the combustion of wood and coal for indoor heating using stoves that are old or in disrepair. Wood and coal combustion emits particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5), which can reach deep in the lung and cause injuries. Currently, there is little information about the health effects of wood and coal combustion-derived PM2.5 on Navajo Nation residents. This study tested the hypothesis that PM2.5 generated from solid fuel combustion in stoves commonly used by Navajo residents would induce stratified oxidative stress responses ranging from activation of antioxidant defense to inflammation and cell death in mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7). PM2.5 emitted from burning Ponderosa Pine (PP) and Utah Juniper (UJ) wood and Black Mesa (BM) and Fruitland (FR) coal in a stove representative of those widely used by Navajo residents were collected, and their aqueous suspensions used for cellular exposure. PM from combustion of wood had significantly more elemental carbon (EC) (15%) and soluble Ni (0.0029%) than the samples from coal combustion (EC: 3%; Ni: 0.0019%) and was also a stronger activator of antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (11-fold increase vs. control) than that from coal (5-fold increase). Only PM from PP-wood (12-fold) and BM-coal (3-fold) increased the release of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha. Among all samples, PP-wood consistently had the strongest oxidative stress and inflammatory effects. PM components, i.e. low-volatility organic carbon, EC, Cu, Ni and K were positively correlated with the cellular responses. Results showed that, at the concentrations tested, emissions from all fuels did not have significant cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that PM2.5 emitted from combustion of wood and coal commonly used by Navajo residents may negatively impact the health of this community.

Technical Note: Lateral Connections and Withdrawal Capacity of Western Juniper

The goal of this project is to increase the amount of available information about western juniper wood to encourage its use in structural applications. This project evaluated the performance of connections involving western juniper wood and other common wood-based building materials. The tests for this project included edge lateral nail connection tests (ASTM 2007a), dowel bearing strength tests (ASTM 2007c), and withdrawal tests (ASTM 2007b). The performance of juniper and juniper-oriented strand board (OSB) connections were characterized. The results were also evaluated against predictive design equations found in the National Design Specification (NDS). The data obtained in this study suggest that NDS equations conservatively predict the load-carrying capacity of a juniper-OSB connection but consistently predict the failure mode.

Landscape and firewood at Espantalobos Mesolithic site (Huesca, Spain). First results

Wood charcoal analysis carried out at Espantalobos (Quicena, Huesca) provides key data on the research of past vegetation and woodland exploitation by late Mesolithic groups in the middle Ebro Valley. Radiocarbon dates place the occupations between 8975-8547 cal BP and 8321-8046 cal BP, the last one related to the well-known 8.2 cal BP event. Its location, outside the mountainous ranges of the Ebro Basin where a large network of Mesolithic seasonal rockshelters are known, helps to improve our understanding on the prehistoric occupation of plains. This research provides also palaeoecological information about the natural environmental conditions of a poorly documented bioclimatic belt in which present-day vegetation has been heavily modified by human activity (intensive agriculture practices and deforestation). Anthracological study has focused on the main vegetation changes along the two described archaeological levels and the taxa distribution across their surfaces. A total of 1711 charcoal remains have been studied: 1120 are scattered fragments (560 from each of the two archaeological layers) and the rest belong to three different hearths. A high taxonomic diversity is observed in the assemblage. Juniper wood is the main taxon used as fuel. Mediterranean trees and shrubs, both xerophytic and thermophilous, are abundantly documented, in contrast with the presence of mesophilous and deciduous taxa, mainly maples, which nevertheless are also well represented. According to wood charcoal analysis, the collection of firewood was carried out following opportunistic strategies, in a regime of recurrent and seasonal short-term visits to a settlement whose surroundings were characterized by an open landscape.

100 Years of earthquakes in the Pamir region as recorded in juniper wood: A case study of Tajikistan

Active tectonics reflect high seismicity rates in the Pamir and surrounding areas. Long-lived trees growing in the western Pamir-Alay mountains are affected by ground accelerations and seismic-induced geomorphic processes. At a high-mountain site in the Pamir-Alay, 45 juniper trees were sampled in order to analyze the potential role of these trees in the reconstruction of disturbance events. Although the trees have a maximum age c. 500years, only the period of the last 100years was analyzed, aiming for the dendrochronological identification of earthquake events known by historic documents and measurements. Analysis mainly showed non-climatic growth suppression and releases. These signals were identified as the results of tectonic disturbances. Tree-ring data recorded many earthquakes from which the most distinct were: 1907, 1923, 1943, 1955, 1982, and 1998. The 1907 and 1923 large earthquakes took place after the vegetation period; therefore, growth reduction appeared in the following year. The 1943, 1955, 1982, and 1998 events occurred just before or during the vegetation period and therefore induced the immediate reduction of tree rings in the earthquake year. The identification of the characteristic growth ring patterns, which are a response to large earthquakes, will enable the reconstruction of these events in the past on the basis of centuries-long dendrochronological records.

Влияние стрессовых воздействий на компонентный состав и строение древесины можжевельника

Влияние стрессовых воздействий на компонентный состав и строение древесины можжевельника

Updraft gasification of juniper wood biomass using CO2–O2 and Air (N2–O2)

ABSTRACTBiomass gasification is being considered as one of the most promising technologies for converting low-quality solid biomass fuel into gaseous fuel. Redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii), one of the woody species that dominate uncultivated lands in the southern great plains, USA, may have a great potential for bioenergy utilization. In this study, the results of gasification of juniper are presented. Juniper wood chips were gasified in an adiabatic fixed bed updraft gasifier using air and the mixture gas of carbon dioxide and oxygen (CO2:O2) as gasification medium. The effect of gasification parameters such as moisture contents, gasification mediums, and gasification temperature on produced gas properties and the tar yield were investigated. It was observed that oxy fuel gasification (the reaction of woody fuels with carbon dioxide) of juniper resulted in the increase of production of carbon monoxide, especially at higher peak gasification temperatures. As a result, the CO2 gasification resulted in producing higher heating value gas (6264 kJ/nm3 with dilution of CO2 and 19,750 kJ/nm3 inert free) compared to air gasification. For air gasification, it was observed that the updraft gasification produced large amount of the tar in the product gas (more than 100 g/nm3) for the fuels with moisture content between 6% and 11%. Generally, the tar yield increased with the increase of equivalence ratio (er) and moisture content. However, when the fuel moisture content reached 23.5%, the tar yield reduced significantly due low gasification temperature which reduced the less tar cracking.

Paulownia Tree as an Alternative Raw Material for Pencil Manufacturing

The Paulownia tree is one of the most important fast growing species in the World and is an ideal multipurpose tree. In this study, the potential use of Paulownia wood (Paulownia elongata) as a raw material for the pencil manufacturing industry is investigated. Currently, poplar, cedar, and juniper species are most commonly used in this industry. However, Paulownia wood is a fast growing species that can be used in the industry after 5 years on the plantation. Paulownia (Paulownia elongata), poplar (Populus tremula), and juniper (Juniperus excelsa) wood specimens were used in this study. The specimens were prepared according to related standards, and physical, mechanical, and technological properties were investigated. The data obtained from these measurements were compared statistically using ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. As a result, Paulownia wood exhibited favorable properties, suggesting that it would be a useful alternative raw material for the pencil manufacturing industry.

Chemical Contents and Antifungal Activity of Some Durable Wood Extractives vs. Pleurotus ostreatus

The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), phenolic compounds, and antifungal activity of olive (Olea europaea var. sylvestris) and juniper (Juniperus foetidissima) sapwood and heartwood extractives were examined. The extractives were obtained using methanol solvents. The different compounds in extractives were identified and quantified. The antifungal activities of different parts of the olive and juniper wood extractives were determined in vitro. Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium was used for the antifungal activity experiment. Extractive compounds obtained from olive and juniper woods were found to be effective, natural antifungal agents.