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Resistance of Kapok Fibers (Ceiba pentandra) to Biotic and Abiotic Degradation: Evaluation by SEM, FTIR, Py-GC/MS, and Colorimetry
Analytical Approaches for the Identification and Characterization of Tannins in Natural Matrices. A Comprehensive Review
Network for forest by-products charcoal, resin, tar, potash (COST Action EU-PoTaRCh)
The COST EU-PoTaRCh Action establishes a network focused on the past, present, and future significance, production, and use of major forest by-products in Europe and beyond. The Action centers around forest by-products—primarily potash, tar, resin, and charcoal (PoTaRCh), along with plant extracts—which have been produced and utilized for over 100,000 years due to their unique chemical, biological, and therapeutic properties. The primary goal of the Action is to demonstrate the importance of these products for the socio-economic development of European countries and beyond, as well as their impact on biodiversity and the natural environment. The Action's objectives are organized into five Working Groups (WGs), each aligned with specific areas of interest: heritage, chemical characterization, archaeology, environmental history, and future perspectives of PoTaRCh materials. A key aspect of the Action is its support for stakeholders outside the scientific community who possess knowledge of PoTaRCh products through their use in industries such as production, education, and the promotion of forests' natural and cultural heritage. In doing so, the Action brings together stakeholders with diverse activity profiles, including museums, state forests, the forestry industry, associations dedicated to preserving traditions, and the tourism sector. The EU-PoTaRCh Action adheres to the three key principles of COST’s inclusiveness policy: participation of inclusiveness target countries, gender balance, and the involvement of young researchers, including in leadership positions.
Activated carbon prepared from corn biomass by chemical activation with potassium hydroxide
With the depletion of fossil fuel feedstocks, the lignocellulosic biomass, including the agro-wastes, can serve as the best alternative source to produce activated carbons (ACs). Corn biomass (corn leaves, stalks, cobs without kernels, silk, and kernels) were used to produce ACs in a two-step process. Crushed plant material was carbonized at 600 °C and then the obtained carbon was activated using potassium hydroxide at 750 °C. The content and type of surface oxygen functional groups were determined by the Boehm method and infrared spectroscopy. The porous structure of the obtained AC was determined by the nitrogen adsorption/desorption method at -196 °C, and the thermal resistance by the thermogravimetric method. The iodine number was also determined. The ACs derived from corn biomass were characterized with surfaces rich in chemical groups and revealed a highly developed porous structure. The specific BET surface area ranged from 1600 m2/g to 1965 m2/g. High values of iodine number approx. 1300 mg/g, indicated an extensive system of pores and their good adsorption properties.
New Biodegradable Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Films with Liquid Products of Wood Pine Pyrolysis with Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties
Novel carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) films with liquid products of pyrolysis (LPP) from wood pine were produced. The obtained CMC-LPP films were plasticized with 5% glycerol. CMC-LPP films were a light brown colour with a characteristic smoky scent, and showed a higher oxygen permeability when compared to control film without the addition of the LPP. CMC-LPP exhibited high antioxidant activity (5 and 18 times higher than CMC films). Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of the CMC-LPP films was tested, showing a strong inhibiting growth effect on the seven tested human pathogenic bacteria. The new material had the most substantial bacteriostatic effect on Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Introduction of LPP to plasticised CMC produces an eco-friendly material with biocidal effect and favourable mechanical and structural properties, which shows its potential for possible use in many industries.
Phosphorus–Nitrogen Interaction in Fire Retardants and Its Impact on the Chemistry of Treated Wood
This work focuses on the changes in the chemical composition of wood caused by impregnation with fire retardants such as guanidine carbonate (GC), urea (U), diammonium phosphate (DAP) and their mixtures. The treated wood was tested using the oxygen index (LOI), Py–GC/MS analysis and FTIR Spectroscopy. The wood was vacuum treated at a pressure of 0.8 MPa for 20 min and then subjected to thermal degradation using the LOI. This way, degraded and nondegraded layers were obtained and ground (0.2 mm). All treatment variants achieved the class of non-flammable materials based on LOI tests; the exception was the 5% urea solution, defined as a flame-retardant material. Using the analytical methods, it was found that cellulose and hemicelluloses undergo the fastest thermal degradation. This study found that the variant protected with a 5% mixture of GC and DAP before and after the degradation process had the best fire-retardant properties regarding cellulose content in the wood. The highest content of anhydrosugars characterised the same variants, the amount of which indicates a slowdown in the degradation process and, consequently, a reduction in the release of levoglucosan during combustion, suggesting potential applications in fire safety.
Initial Desorption of Reaction Beech Wood
The research aimed to obtain empirical data for modeling the initial desorption in reaction wood from the cross-section of the green beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) log. Firstly, we analyzed the chemical composition, macro and microscopic structure of tension and opposite wood tissue. Then, the Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) was measured by the Dynamic Vapor Sorption method during the initial desorption. The used air parameters were specific for the mild drying schedule of green beech timber (t = 20, 35, and 50 °C, Relative Humidity (RH) ranging from 95 to 0 %). Relationships between the EMC of reaction wood and drying parameters were modeled using the Response Surface Method (RSM). The tests revealed: different hygroscopic properties of tension and opposite wood, the dependence of EMC value on temperature, and differences between EMC values for initial (first) and second desorption. Moreover, it was confirmed that, during initial desorption, the EMCs of reaction wood are significantly higher than reference EMC data. The differences in the EMC value are up to 0.14 kg/kg (for air with RH above 90 %). The presented polynomial model of the initial desorption of reaction beech wood can improve drying schedules for beech sawn timber with a high amount of reaction tissue.
Comparison of the properties of birch bark tar obtained by the double-clay pot method and the laboratory method
Characterising terpenic plant resins, wood tars and pitches in heritage science: analytical methods and applications
Abstract This review examines natural plant resins, wood tars and pitches in heritage science, focusing on their historical uses, chemical composition and analytical characterisation. Particular attention is given to diterpenoid and triterpenoid resins and to chemical transformations induced by ageing, degradation and thermal processing. The identification of diagnostic molecular markers supports the determination of botanical origins and technological practices, while an overview of complementary analytical methods highlights current challenges and perspectives.
Investigating Water Storage Dynamics in the Litter Layer: The Impact of Mixing and Decay of Pine Needles and Oak Leaves
Little is known about how the degree of mixing various forest-forming species affects forest floor hydrology. We evaluated the water storage capacity of the resulting litter layer by mixing the litterfall of Scots pine and sessile oak and studying their decomposition time. We prepared 90 artificial samples containing pure pine litter, pure oak litter, and mixed pine–oak litter with varying shares of pine needles. These samples were subjected to 15 months of decomposition in soil. After every three months of decay, some samples were removed from the soil, and their water storage capacity, bulk density, and C:N ratio were evaluated. Our findings indicate that samples with the greatest water storage capacity had a low C:N ratio and a predominant share of oak leaves. Conversely, samples with a high C:N ratio and a predominant share of pine needles had the lowest water storage capacity. After 12 and 15 months of decomposition, the water storage capacity increased by more than 52% compared to the initial water capacity of the samples. The highest increase in water storage capacity (>40%) was observed in samples with a predominant share of oak leaves, while the lowest (approximately 28%) was recorded in samples with 80 and 100% of pine needles. Our findings suggest that introducing mixed-species stands, with deciduous species as the predominant component, can yield several ecological benefits, such as an increased ability to store water in forest floor.
Content of elements in contemporary and archaeological wood as a marker of possible change in physico-chemical parameters
Gold Mine Wooden Artefacts: Multianalytical Investigations for the Selection of Appropriate Consolidation Treatments
Environmental conditions present in mines generally are very favourable to decay; high temperature, high humidity, variable oxygen content, numerous metal-wood connections and the presence of a high content of inorganic compounds typical of mines have a significant impact on the biotic and abiotic degradation factors. The state of conservation of wooden artefacts from the Złoty Stok (Poland) gold mine was investigated using a multi-analytical approach. The aim was to select the conservation treatments that would stop decay and improve the conditions and dimensional stability of the wood. FT-IR and Py-GC/MS were used to assess the state of preservation of lignocellulosic material. ED-XRF and SEM-EDS were used to determine—and XRD to identify crystalline phases—salts and minerals in the wood structure or efflorescence on the surface. Highly degraded lignocellulosic material that had undergone depolymerisation and oxidation was found to be severely contaminated by iron-based mineral substances, mainly pyrite, and in some cases greigite and magnetite. The presence of inorganic salts made it difficult to choose the best consolidating material to reduce the level of decay and improve the dimensional stability of the wood.
Correlation between rotational molding process temperature and degradation changes of polyethylene and composites containing coffee spent grounds used as an active filler
Chemical Composition and Related Properties of Lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) Bark and Wood as Affected by Tree Growth Conditions
Tilia cordata Mill. is a favourite tree used in urban spaces. For this reason, it is important to know its sensitivity to environmental stress, which is particularly burdensome for vegetation in urban spaces. The aim of the study was to investigate the properties necessary to control the growth of these trees and their subsequent use, i.e., chemical properties (percentage contents of cellulose, holocellulose, lignin, pentosans and substances soluble in NaOH and EtOH) as well as the chemical elements (K, Na, Mg, Ca and Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, B, Ni, Cr, Al, As and Hg) and selected hygroscopic properties (hysteresis and sorption isotherms). Trees of Tilia cordata Mill. growing in environments exposed to environmental stress of varying severity were examined. Regardless of the growth conditions, in terms of its chemical composition, bark differs significantly from wood, showing twice the contents of soluble substances in NaOH and lignin and half the content of polysaccharides. Growth conditions clearly affect the range of selected chemical components in bark, e.g., substances soluble in ethanol, cellulose, or lignin. The main inorganic elements in bark and wood are Na, K, Ca, Mg and Zn. In bark, a relationship was found between the content of most chemical elements and differing environmental growth conditions. It was shown that environmental stress influenced the hygroscopic properties of wood and bark, which are a consequence of the percentage of chemical components.
Deepening the understanding and extending the potential of waste biomass temperature treatment using sunflower husk as an example
Ruderal Habitats: A Source for Biomass and Biogas
The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemical composition and biogas potential of selected ruderal and expansive plant species: Heracleum sosnowskyi, Aegopodium podagraria, Chaerophyllum bulbosum, Acer negundo, and Urtica dioica. Plant material was collected from a 19th-century park in the village of Niegolewo (Greater Poland Voivodship) and analyzed for cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, extractives, and ash content before and after methane fermentation. Fermentation followed DIN 38 414-S8, and chemical analyses used standardized methods (TAPPI, Seifert, and DIN). Statistical analyses included ANOVA, CVA, and hierarchical clustering. The highest biogas yield was obtained from A. podagraria, which is associated with low lignin and high hemicellulose degradation. The results confirm the potential of ruderal biomass as a diverse source for biogas production.
Substrate-driven differential sensitivity of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria to pine and birch liquid pyrolysis products
From Stress to Recovery: Divergent Chilling Responses in Contrasting Miscanthus sinensis Genotypes
ABSTRACT Chilling temperatures are a major constraint on the early‐season performance of C 4 bioenergy crops in temperate regions. To dissect the temporal architecture of chilling resilience, we conducted an integrative, time‐resolved analysis of two Miscanthus sinensis genotypes contrasting in chilling tolerance, Ms12 (LCT) and Ms16 (HCT). Through stepwise chilling and recovery treatments, we profiled genotype‐specific changes in shoot physiology, hormone accumulation, gene expression, and importantly cell wall composition, a key yet understudied determinant of chilling resilience in perennial grasses. The high chilling‐tolerant genotype (HCT) maintained its shoot growth, photosynthetic performance, and membrane stability by activating a delayed but sustained program involving secondary wall reinforcement, ABA–JA hormonal crosstalk, and raffinose family oligosaccharide (RFO) accumulation in response to the extreme conditions. While, low chilling‐tolerant genotype (LCT) initiated a rapid transcriptional and hormonal response, which lacked persistence and failed to support structural recovery or metabolic buffering. In‐depth transcriptomic profiling revealed divergent dynamics between studied genotypes. The LCT genotype mounted an early transcriptional burst, while the HCT genotype showed prolonged induction of the cell wall biosynthesis, energy metabolism, and stress‐response genes. FTIR (Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy) and sugar quantification confirmed genotype‐specific remodeling of cell wall polymers. Moreover, hormone profiling showed that only the HCT genotype sustained ABA and JA signaling through the recovery process. RFOs accumulation, tightly linked to transcriptional activation of GolS (galactinol synthase) and RS (raffinose synthase) genes, was also more pronounced in the HCT genotype. Our findings demonstrate that chilling resilience in M. sinensis depends not on early response magnitude, but on the integration and temporal coordination of stress mitigation and recovery pathways. This work establishes a multiscale framework for identifying traits and regulatory modules underpinning chilling tolerance in perennial grasses, with direct relevance to climate‐resilient biomass plant breeding.
