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Chemical characteristics of squeezable sap of hydrothermally treated silver birch logs (Betula pendula): effect of treatment time and the quality of the soaking water in pilot scale experiment

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Abstract

Little is currently known about the chemical changes that birch logs undergo during soaking in the plywood process. In order to probe the chemical changes in the log during soaking, sap obtained by mechanical compression from the log was chemically analyzed after pilot scale soaking at 70 °C. The results from the experiments revealed that the physical interaction between the core part of the log and the soaking water is limited. It was also suggested a water extraction causing significant increases in free monosaccharides and organic carbon concentrations in the sap. Assessment of the soaking water in the tank after soaking showed that the level of organic loading in water increases as the soaking temperature increases, probably due to the elution of organic substances from the bark. The dominant-free monosaccharides were glucose and fructose. Xylose and galactose also emerged during soaking. From the results, it is suspected that the majority of organic loadings in the water after soaking originate from the bark. This methodology for the sap collection seemed a reasonable approach to analyze the chemical characteristics of the xylem part of a log. Another aspect, relating to the seasonal variation of these changes in birch logs, is briefly discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by Tekes (The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation), UPM-Kymmene Wood Oy, Tikkurila Oyj, Stora Enso Timber Oy and Dynea Chemicals Oy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Products Technology, School of Chemical Technology, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, 00076, Aalto, Finland

    Akio Yamamoto, Anti Rohumaa, Eero Kontturi, Mark Hughes & Tapani Vuorinen

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  1. Akio Yamamoto
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  2. Anti Rohumaa
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  3. Eero Kontturi
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  4. Mark Hughes
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  5. Tapani Vuorinen
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Correspondence to Eero Kontturi.

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Yamamoto, A., Rohumaa, A., Kontturi, E. et al. Chemical characteristics of squeezable sap of hydrothermally treated silver birch logs (Betula pendula): effect of treatment time and the quality of the soaking water in pilot scale experiment. Wood Sci Technol 49, 289–302 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-014-0693-5

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