Propiedades químicas, color y humectabilidad de partículas de laureliopsis philippiana (TEPA) con y sin tratamiento térmico

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of a thermal treatment in a vapor water saturated atmosphere, on wood particles of Laureliopsis philippiana. The particles in autoclave at 150 °C for 90 minutes and with a pressure of 430 kPa were thermally treated, the pressure generated by the evaporation of water in the sealed autoclave. The amount of extractives in soda, ethanol-toluene, cold and hot water, as well as, the percentages of cellulose, holocellulose and lignin, the pH value, the percentages of volatiles and washables acids, and buffer capacity, for both particles without and with treatment, were determined. In thermally treated particles an increase in the percentage of extractives, cellulose and volatiles and water soluble acids was found, as well as, in thermally treated particles an increment of acidity and a higher buffer capacity was found, in comparison with the particles without treatment. The thermal treatment produced a color change in the particles and a reduction in their wettability. Due to the chemical changes found in the treated particles they could present advantages in the particleboard production, allowing a better ureaformaldehyde polymerization.