Chemical and thermal characterizations of Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster
Gülnur Mertoğlu Elmas, Nural Yılgör
Abstract
Chemical and thermal aspects of Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster were characterized, with consideration of non-extracted and cylohexane-ethanol (EtOH)-extracted woods, holocellulose, and α-cellulose. The chemical properties including cylohexane-EtOH solubility of wood were determined by standard test methods, holocellulose, α-cellulose, lignin, and ash components. Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflection spectroscopic (FTIR-ATR) analysis revealed changes in the chemical structure of the specimens. Lignin peaks were still observed in holocelluloses’ spectra, and substantial loss of polysaccharides were also detected. Moreover, the α-cellulose spectra of both softwoods included bands belonging to polyoses. Pinus pinaster‘s holocellulose, α-cellulose, and ash contents were higher than those of Pinus sylvestris but lignin and cylohexane-EtOH-solubility amounts were lower. The mass loss during degradation stage of Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster was observed in the extracted wood respectively as 73.0 and 74.5% within the 188.7 to 422.9 °C range. The highest mass loss for Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster in the carbonization step was formed in their holocelluloses respectively as 22.9 and 22.5% from 426 °C to 1017 °C.