Wood Bark Research Articles

A multiple gene genealogy reveals phylogenetic placement of Rhopalostroma lekae

Rhopalostroma lekae was collected on bark of wood in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand and isolates from the sexual state produced a nodulosporium-like asexual state in culture. A combined multigene sequence analysis was used to infer the phylogenetic position of R. lekae and its affinities with other xylariaceous genera. Rhopalostroma is confirmed to have particularly close affinities with the genera Phylacia and Thamnomyces. Secondary metabolite profiling of R. lekae showed the species to produce binaphthalene tetrol (BNT) as a major metabolite and several minor undetermined metabolites. The phylogenetic placement of R. lekae was resolved using a polythetic approach. Herbarium material and living cultures representing an authentic specimen of R. lekae are deposited in publically accessible collections that can be used in future studies.

Pore Structure Characteristics of Activated Carbon Fibers Derived from Poplar Bark Liquefaction and Their Use for Adsorption of Cu(II)

In this work, wood bark was liquefied to prepare activated carbon fibers, which were obtained through melt-spinning, stabilization, carbonizing, and stream activation. The effects of varying activation temperature on the pore structure and the adsorption capacity of the liquefied wood bark activated carbon fibers (LWBACFs) were studied using analysis of nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and static adsorption of copper (II) ions from aqueous solution. The results indicated that higher specific surface area was obtained as the activation temperature increased. The specific surface area reached a maximum of 1962 m2/g with an average pore diameter of approximately 2 nm. Carbonization at 200 °C played an important role in the formation of pore structure. The adsorption of copper by LWBACFs was high, with a peak of 15 mg/g. All parameters showed that LWBACFs performed well in the adsorption of micropores.

Lumber and wood chips properties of dead and sound black spruce trees grown in the boreal forest of Canada

Little attention has been given to changes in wood properties after isolated mortality events, which characterize the gap dynamics of several forest ecosystems. For the forest industry, dead and sound trees may represent a significant source of timber supply, but of potentially lower quality. The main objective of this study was therefore to compare the properties of wood obtained from dead and sound wood (DSW) trees with those from live trees. In total, 162 black spruce trees (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) were felled from three sites comprising three states of tree degradation and three diameter classes. In total, 822 pieces of lumber of different dimensions were produced and visually graded. Full-size lumber pieces of 4.3–5.0 m in length (n 1⁄4 343) were tested for wood stiffness and strength in longitudinal static bending. Samples of wood chips and bark were also collected during the production process at a sawmill. Results indicate that DSW trees produced lumber of significantly poorer mechanical properties than live trees. For the same modulus of elasticity (MOE) value, DSW trees have significantly lower modulus of rupture values than those of live trees, especially for MOE values of ,15 GPa. This suggests that the wood of DSW trees is more brittle, a fact that should be taken into account for the production of machine-stress-rated lumber. Moisture content of wood chips was significantly lower in DSW trees, although it remained above the fibre saturation point. The amount of wood fibre attached to the bark was significantly higher in DSW trees. Considering these differences, DSW trees can be expected to provide wood of inferior quality than live trees but which still meet the technical requirements (Barrett and Lau, 1994) for producing structural lumber.

Evaluation of the Gross and Net Calorific Value of the Selected Wood Species

The article deals with the important characteristics of the fuel energy parameters as the heat of combustion and ash contents of selected species of hardwoods and softwoods. In the research there were used the following wood of trees: pine, spruce, beech and maple, with calorific values ascertained separately for wood, bark, leaves and needles. Gross calorific value (another equivalent term is heat of combustion) was determined and calculated according to ISO 1928 “Heat of combustion of solid fuels”. Because the net calorific value of fuel significantly decreases with the moisture, the net calorific value of samples was determined not only in the absolutely dry state, but also at different percentage of moisture. The highest values of heat of combustion have been shown needles of pine wood (21.32 MJ.kg-1), bark of spruce wood (21.21 MJ.kg-1), leaves of beech wood (20.44 MJ.kg-1) and inner wood of spruce tree (20,54 MJ.kg-1). As other important energetic characteristic of wood a contents of ash have been measured and evaluated. Ash values from specimens of tested tree species were in the range from 0.78 up to 5 %. The average value of the residuum is 2.07 %. The lowest value was found for the field maple wood 0.78 % and the highest one for the bark of the same maple 5 %. The highest ash values were measured in most cases for needles and leaves; only for maple it was for the bark. On the other side, the lowest residuals were found for the wood itself.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenols from spruce wood bark

Here we describe the ultrasound-assisted extraction of the phenolic compounds from spruce wood bark and present a straight-forward experimental planning method, allowing the optimisation of the process. The effect of ethanol concentration, temperature and extraction time were evaluated through a 32·2 experimental planning. The efficiency of the extraction process was appreciated based on factorial ANOVA results. The maximum extraction yield of total polyphenols (13.232mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of spruce bark tested) was obtained using a process time of 60min, an extraction temperature of 54°C and a concentration of ethanol of 70% respectively. These results indicate that an important quantity of bioactive compounds can be extracted from spruce wood bark by ultrasound assisted extraction technology.

Elucidation of antioxidant properties of wood bark derived saturated diarylheptanoids: A comprehensive (DFT-supported) understanding

A series of diarylheptanoids, namely 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-heptan-3-one-5-O-d-xylopyranoside (oregonin), 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxyheptane-5-O-β-d-xylopyranoside and 1,7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-heptane-3-one-5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (platyphylloside), were isolated from the bark of alder family trees, a species widely spread over in Europe. As antioxidants, these natural polyphenols have a promising potential in various fields of application, but their redox reactivity is insufficiently characterized. In this work, their antioxidant activity is described using assays based on DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging, oxygen anion radicals (O2-) quenching. The standardized ORAC assay was also achieved, which measures the capacity to protect fluorescent molecules against oxidative degradation. The measured antioxidant activity was higher than that of the well-known antioxidant and biologically active diarylheptanoid curcumin. Molecular modeling was used to rationalize the differences in activity and the mechanisms of action. Thermodynamic descriptors mainly O–H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) establish a clear structure–activity relationship.

Synthesis of Bio-based Nanomaterial from Surian (Toona sinensis Roem) Wood Bark Using Conventional Balls Milling Method and its Characterization

Synthesis of Bio-based Nanomaterial from Surian (Toona sinensis Roem) Wood Bark Using Conventional Balls Milling Method and its Characterization

Stem Wood and Bark Extracts of Delonix regia (Boj. Ex. Hook): Chemical Analysis and Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antioxidant Properties

In the present study, the fatty acid components of the wood, bark, and essential oil of wood from Delonix regia as well as its antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties were investigated for the potential ability to control plant and human pathogens. Myristic acid was found to be a major fatty acid in the wood and bark of Delonix regia, comprising 10.77% of wood and 9.63% of bark. According to the GC-MS results, naphthalene derivatives were detected in the essential oils from the wood samples. Heptadecane and acyclic hydrocarbons were found in a high percentage (14.05%). Methanol: chloroform (1:1 v/v) wood extract showed effective activity against Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea, and Staphylococcus aureus, where the bark extract was most active against Escherichia coli. The essential oil showed good antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium carotovorum. The bark extract showed the maximum percentage inhibition of fungal mycelial growth against Penicillium selerotigenum (70.37%) and Paecilomyces variotii (77.78%), and the essential oil showed moderate inhibition against Aspergillus nigra (44.44%). The total antioxidant activity of essential oil, stem wood, and stem bark extract was 84.34%, 80.33%, and 70.21%, respectively.

A study on the effect of compaction on transport properties of soil gas and water I: Relative gas diffusivity, air permeability, and saturated hydraulic conductivity

Operation of farm machinery in agricultural fields is the main cause of soil compaction, which may have detrimental effects on soil gas and water transport. However, application of organic matter (OM) reduces the adverse effects of compaction and improves transport properties of soil gases and water. To date, experimental data on the effect of compaction on those transport properties and its relationship to the presence of applied OM remains scarce. The effect of compaction on relative gas diffusivity (Dp/D0)100 and air permeability (ka100) at a soil matric suction of −100cm H2O (soil pF 2.0), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (ks) were investigated using disturbed soil sample taken from 0–15cm layer mixed with rice husk, rice straw, compost, sawdust, and wood bark at a rate of 20% of the soil volume. The common compaction caused by farm machinery in agricultural fields was simulated in the laboratory using a static compression load of 150, 225, and 300kPa. The effect of compaction on total porosity (f) and air content at soil pF 2.0 (ɛ100) was also examined. Compaction reduced f, ɛ100, (Dp/D0)100, ka100, and ks, with the more pronounced significant difference between 150 and 300kPa compactions. The decrease in (Dp/D0)100 was likely attributable to a reduced air content, and the decrease in ka100 and ks was likely attributable to a reduced volume of macropores, as indicated by reduced ɛ100 values. Compared with the control, addition of sawdust and wood bark seemed to have the most positive effect on (Dp/D0)100, ka100, and ks in term of resistance to compaction, while rice straw had the opposite effect. The presence of OM was likely to block the soil pores and increase capillary water in the bottle-neck, leading to lower values of (Dp/D0)100 and ka100 for a given value of ɛ100 (“blockage effect”). These pores blocked by OM, however, seemed to allow the water to flow through the soil matric (“ceramic filter effect”). Further studies on the prolonged application of OM at field scale, taking into account the decomposition process, should be conducted.

Deterioration of organic packing materials commonly used in air biofiltration: Effect of VOC-packing interactions

The abiotic deterioration of three conventional organic packing materials used in biofiltration (compost, wood bark and Macadamia nutshells) caused by their interaction with toluene (used as a model volatile organic compound) was here studied. The deterioration of the materials was evaluated in terms of structural damage, release of co-substrates and increase of the packing biodegradability. After 21 days of exposure to toluene, all packing materials released co-substrates able to support microbial growth, which were not released by the control materials not exposed to toluene. Likewise, the exposure to toluene increased the packing material biodegradability by 26% in wood bark, 20% in compost and 17% in Macadamia nutshells. Finally, scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed the deterioration in the structure of the packing materials evaluated due to the exposure to toluene, Macadamia nutshells being the material with the highest resistance to volatile organic compound attack.

Phosphate removal from water by modified pine bark using ionic liquid analog

Pine bark (PB) wood residues were chemically modified and used as anion exchange resins to remove phosphate (PO43-) from water. The modification process involved reacting a choline-based ionic liquid analog, comprised of a mixture of choline chloride derivative and urea, with natural PB in the presence of imidazole. Batch sorption tests showed that the modified PB has a maximum PO43-–P uptake capacity of 2.09 mmol/g (64.8 mg g−1). The changes at the surface of the PB due to chemical modification and phosphate uptake were monitored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and Zeta potential measurements. The adsorption was found to be concentration and ionic strength dependent, exothermic, spontaneous, and is best described by a pseudo-second-order kinetics. The modified residues were used for the removal of PO43- from an effluent of a dairy farm anaerobic digester and from a wastewater treatment plant sludge centrate.

Determination of statins by gas chromatography – EI/MRM – Tandem mass spectrometry: Fermentation of pine samples with Pleurotus ostreatus

Statins were separated and quantified with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–EI-MS/MS) using total ion monitoring (TIC) and multiple reactions monitoring (MRM). The MRM method in statins determination has a novelty value, since there are no previous studies on their simultaneous analysis in environmental or plant samples. The method development and optimization was challenging due to the physicochemical similarities of the silylated lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, and atorvastatin. The results showed that the use of MRM decreased their detection and quantification limits by factors of 2–10 compared to that obtained in TIC monitoring. The concentration calibration was made between 247.5ng/L and 9900ng/L. Limits of detection and quantification were between 50ng/L (lovastatin)–500ng/L (pravastatin) and 250ng/L (lovastatin)–1000ng/L (pravastatin), respectively. Based on the MRM results, the wood bark and phloem samples contained lovastatin, lovastatin–lactone, simvastatin, simvastatin–lactone, and pravastatin. Their concentrations were 250–3000μg/L, i.e. 4.2–50mg/kg in phloem and bark. However, they were not detected in fluids made with Pleurotus ostreatus fermentation of wood core.

The Architectural and Cultural Heritage of Sabah - The Rungus Longhouse

This paper dwells into heritage tourism that is related to the architectural and cultural heritage of the Rungus people of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. It investigates the cultural influence on the architecture of the longhouse. The Rungus tribal group can be found in the northeast corner of Sabah, farming the land mostly on agricultural products in small scale plantations. Their longhouses, facing extinction, are dual-purpose dwellings, constructed entirely of traditional materials utilising small split timbers lashed with rattan for the frame, palm fronds for the thatched roof, split bamboo for the floor and tree bark of hewn wood for the compartment walls. Each family has its own separate quarters off a common hall for socialising and community work and village life is usually based on the cultural traditions. Strongly related to the spirit of the place, the 'rice spirit', in particular, figures prominently in the Rungus people's beliefs and practices in controlling the spirits and the people's daily life and often governed by the words of the bobohizans, the high priestess. The objectives gear towards analysing the architectural values and investigating cultural understanding associated with the longhouses. Most importantly, the issue of how the Rungus people relate to the environment is studied through the tangible and intangible cultural aspects of the people. The research utilises the observation technique, interviews with the residents, visual data collection and measured drawings of five longhouses as the processes to document data. The paper instigates an investigation into the conformity of the Rungus people of their place in the environment to perpetuate their lifestyle blessed with a unique heritage found in their architecture and culture, in a land where nature reigns. It is a heritage that worth a second look in the tourism industry of Sabah.

EFFECT OF FEEDSTOCK, ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT AND PH ON CD, ZN AND MN AVAILABILITY IN FARM COMPOST BASED ON BARK AND WOOD CHIPS

We aimed to determine the effect of feedstock composition on Cd, Zn and Mn concentrations and availability during the composting process for small-scale composting. The effect of using wood chips instead of tree bark on compost properties was determined in a compost trial with leek residues and hay of grass included in the feedstock. Supplementary experiments included sequential extraction for determining the easily exchangeable, reducible, oxidizable and residual fractions for Cd, Mn, and Zn in composts. We determined the effect of decreasing the pH or the organic matter content and adding easily available Zn and Mn on the fractionation and availability of Cd, Mn and Zn in composts. Use of bark or wood chips resulted in elevated Cd, Zn or Mn concentrations in the compost. Cd concentrations in the compost may exceed legal criteria, mainly due to the use of wood chips or bark of tree species with high Cd uptake. Based on sequential extractions, we measured that Cd and Zn were mainly bound in the reducible fraction, while Mn was found in the easily available fraction. Even at higher total Cd and Zn concentrations in the composts, the results of the sequential extractions showed a small fraction which is present in the exchangeable fraction, which indicates a low environmental risk when applying these composts. Higher Cd concentrations in compost due to the use of bark or wood chips were not found to result in higher risk for Cd leaching. The results of pH-stat experiments illustrated that only a strong pH decline in the compost resulted in higher availability of Cd, Zn and Mn. The amount of soil in the feedstock material or unintentionally added during the composting process affected total and available concentrations for Mn.

SIFAT FISIK MEKANIK PAPAN DARI LIMBAH KULIT KAYU GALAM

Galam wood species (Melaleuca leucadendra) using for raw material bulding, charcoral, and energy. Galam bark wood waste has not been used. The purpose of research utilizing of waste Galam bark for board. Galam bark is cut into pieces with a length of 2 cm, 4 cm and 6 cm, then washed with water and dried naturally to moisture content below 7 %. Adhesives used poly vinyl acetate with a variation of 13 %, 16 %, and 19 % by weight of raw material. Cold pressing for 24 hours and a pressure of 15 kg/cm2. Parameters tested water content thickness swelling, density, modulus of elastisitas/MOE, modulus of rupture/MOR, screw withdrawal and tensile strength refers to the test metodhe SNI 03-2105-2006. The test results obtained water content between 13.59 to 15.52 %; thickness swelling between 5.85 to 20.65 %; density of between 0.38 to 0.90 gr/cm3; modulus of rupture / MOR between 8.62 - 56.12 kg/cm 2 ; modulus of elasticity / MOE between 311.18 to 4022.33 kg/cm ; tensile strength between 0.16 - 0.55 kg/cm 2 ; screw withdrawal strength between 30-70 kg. Bark size 6 cm long wood with a 19 % concentration of adhesive produced water content, thickness swelling, density, modulus of rupture / MOR, modulus of elasticity / MOE, screw withdrawal strength and tensile str e ngth of the best. Keywords: galam, bark wood, board, physical mechanical.

Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) plant cytotoxicity and activity towards malaria parasites. Part I: Aspidosperma nitidum (Benth) used as a remedy to treat fever and malaria in the Amazon

Infusions of Aspidosperma nitidum (Apocynaceae) wood bark are used to treat fever and malaria in the Amazon Region. Several species of this family are known to possess indole alkaloids and other classes of secondary metabolites, whereas terpenoids, an inositol and the indole alkaloids harmane-3 acid and braznitidumine have been described in A. nitidum . In the present study, extracts from the wood bark, leaves and branches of this species were prepared for assays against malaria parasites and cytotoxicity testing using human hepatoma and normal monkey kidney cells. The wood bark extracts were active against Plasmodium falciparum and showed a low cytotoxicity in vitro, whereas the leaf and branch extracts and the pure alkaloid braznitidumine were inactive. A crude methanol extract was subjected to acid-base fractionation aimed at obtaining alkaloid-rich fractions, which were active at low concentrations against P. falciparum and in mice infected with and sensitive Plasmodium berghei parasites. Our data validate the antimalarial usefulness of A. nitidum wood bark, a remedy that can most likely help to control malaria. However, the molecules responsible for this antimalarial activity have not yet been identified. Considering their high selectivity index, the alkaloid-rich fractions from the plant bark might be useful in the development of new antimalarials.

Energy wood resources availability and delivery cost in Northwest Russia

Availability of solid by-products from wood harvesting and mechanical wood processing was estimated as sources for energy production based on recent actual harvesting, sawmill, and plywood production in Northwest Russia at 30 million m3. Nearly 70% of the energy wood, 20 million m3, was from harvesting, consisting of non-industrial round wood, unused branches and tops, defective wood resulting from logging, and spruce stumps removed after final felling. Over 30%, 10 million m3, of the available volume was from sawmills and plywood mills, i.e. wood chips, sawdust, and bark. Due to current low utilization of energy wood for bioenergy in Northwest Russia, delivery cost of energy wood to the potential border-crossing points in Finland was analyzed for three means of transport: railways, roadways, and waterways. Nearly 28 million m3 of the energy wood could be transported by railways and 2 million m3 by roadways and waterways. The costs were lowest by roadways from the nearby border areas (10–15 €/m3 for wood processing by-products and 16–22 €/m3 for forest chips). The costs by railways varied from 12 to 27 €/m3 on shorter distances to 47–58 €/m3 on longer distances. Waterway transportation was the most expensive, about 28–48 €/m3. It should be emphasized that we have estimated availability and delivery costs of energy wood, not prices which are defined by the market based on supply and demand.

Optimizing the Production Process of Fuel Pellets from Swine Dung Compost

Abstract. Interest in producing fuel pellets from animal manure compost has increased due to a sharp rise in oil prices. This study has aimed to optimize the pellet production process by determining the physical characteristics of fuel pellets produced from swine manure compost with either wood bark or sawdust added. Prior to the pelleting process, the physical properties of compost with wood bark added were examined after mixing with industrial oil at different weight ratios of 0%, 1%, 3%, or 6%, or with rice hull meal at weight ratios of 5% or 10%, while controlling the moisture content to 10%, 15%, or 20%. The physical properties of compost with sawdust added were also examined after the compost was sieved through 1, 2, 3, or 5 mm diameter mesh and mixed with a 1% ratio of oil, while controlling its moisture content to a range between 17% and 18%. The two highest calorific values of 14,876 and 15,086 kJ kg -1 were observed for the pellet made from compost mixed with 1% oil and 10% water content, and with 0% oil and 15% water content, respectively. The pellet durability index (PDI) decreased with increasing oil content above 1%. Both the specific gravity and apparent density decreased with increasing oil mixing ratio and moisture content. Mixing with rice hull meal resulted in higher durability during the pelleting process compared to mixing with oil. The durability was greater than 98% when the compost was sieved through a 1, 2, or 3 mm diameter mesh, whereas the durability was 96% when the compost was sieved through a 5 mm diameter mesh. The results indicate that an optimal fuel pellet can be obtained by controlling the moisture content of the swine dung compost to between 15% and 20%, mixing with oil at a ratio of 1% or lower, and sieving through a mesh with a 3 mm or smaller diameter. The overall and net efficiencies of a boiler were higher using pellets made from the compost with wood bark than those with the pellets made from the compost with sawdust.

Estabelecimento inicial de plântulas de Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão em diferentes substrato

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o crescimento inicial de plântulas de M. urundeuva estabelecidas em diferentes substratos. O trabalho foi realizado no Laboratório de Sementes e no Viveiro de Mudas da Universidade Estadual da Bahia (UNEB), Barreiras, BA. As sementes foram coletadas de árvores daquela universidade. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições, sendo os tratamentos T1: solo; T2: areia; T3: solo + areia + esterco; T4: casca de madeira; T5: bagaço de cana-de-açúcar + esterco; e T6: bagaço de cana-de-açúcar + esterco + cinzas. A semeadura foi realizada em bandejas plásticas, com diferentes substratos, utilizando-se 20 sementes, colocadas a uma profundidade de 1,0 cm. Foram avaliados o índice de velocidade de emergência (%), a altura da parte aérea e da radícula, o comprimento das plântulas e das folhas, o número de folhas e as massas verde e seca da parte aérea e da radícula. Plântulas estabelecidas utilizando casca de madeira como substratos obtiveram melhores resultados quanto ao número e comprimento das folhas, altura da parte aérea e massa verde e seca da parte aérea. Em contraste, os percentuais de índice de velocidade de emergência obtiveram os piores resultados em plântulas estabelecidas em substratos com casca de madeira. Os resultados de radículas não diferiram entre as plântulas estabelecidas com os diferentes substratos. Os substratos contendo composto de casca de madeira ou bagaço de cana + esterco forneceram as melhores condições para o crescimento inicial de plântulas de M. urundeuva.

Dealing with the Aftermath of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident: Decontamination of Radioactive Cesium Enriched Ash

Environmental radioactivity, mainly in the Tohoku and Kanto areas, due to the long living radioisotopes of cesium is an obstacle to speedy recovery from the impacts of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Although incineration of the contaminated wastes is encouraged, safe disposal of the Cs enriched ash is the big challenge. To address this issue, safe incineration of contaminated wastes while restricting the release of volatile Cs to the atmosphere was studied. Detailed study on effective removal of Cs from ash samples generated from wood bark, household garbage, and municipal sewage sludge was performed. For wood ash and garbage ash, washing only with water at ambient conditions removed radioactivity due to (134)Cs and (137)Cs, retaining most of the components other than the alkali metals with the residue. However, removing Cs from sludge ash needed acid treatment at high temperature. This difference in Cs solubility is due to the presence of soil particle originated clay minerals in the sludge ash. Because only removing the contaminated vegetation is found to sharply decrease the environmental radioactivity, volume reduction of contaminated biomass by incineration makes great sense. In addition, need for a long-term leachate monitoring system in the landfill can be avoided by washing the ash with water. Once the Cs in solids is extracted to the solution, it can be loaded to Cs selective adsorbents such as Prussian blue and safely stored in a small volume.