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Acetylation of softwoods has been largely investigated to increase the dimensional stability and biological resistance of wood. However, the knowledge of this technology has not been applied to tropical hardwood species up to date. The objective of this work was to study the effect of acetylation on nine tropical hardwood species, from forest plantations in Costa Rica, by applying acetic anhydride in three different treatment times (1 h, 2.5 h, 4 h), as well as to evaluate this by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Results showed that weight percentage gain (WPG) of wood varied from 2.2 to 16.8%, withVochysia ferrugineaspecies showing the highest WPG, andGmelina arboreaandTectona grandisspecies exhibiting the lowest WPGs. Tropical woods such asEnterolobium cyclocarpum,Hieronyma alchorneoidesandSamanea samanexhibited statistical differences among treatment times, whereas the rest of the species studied showed no significant differences. In general, the most effective acetylation time was 2.5 h for all the species. The ratio of intensity (RI) from the FTIR spectra was greater at the 1732 cm−1, 1372 cm−1and 1228 cm−1peaks for all tropical species, associated with lignin. A good correlation between the RI of those peaks and WPG was found; the same was also found between all RIs and each other. Meanwhile, RI associated to the hemicelluloses and lignin (1592 cm−1and 1034 cm−1peaks, respectively) showed no correlation with WPG, nor between each other or with the other RIs. Furthermore, it was suggested that RI at 1732 cm−1(associated to acetyl groups C=O) can be considered as a reliable indicator of the degree of acetylation for tropical hardwood species. Finally, it was observed that tropical hardwoods having more suitable anatomical features, like larger vessel diameter, higher ray width and frequency, and lesser deposits such as gums and tyloses in the vessels, resulted in significantly higher WPGs.

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of the precipitation of CaCO3 via subsequential in-situ mineral formation based on a solution-exchange process of two solution-exchange cycles via impregnation with CaCl2 in ethanol and NaHCO3 in water. The effects were investigated in terms of the structure of the wood and the thermal, physical, mechanical, and decay resistance properties of nine species commonly used in commercial reforestation in Costa Rica. The thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the woods with the highest formation of CaCO3 showed a more pronounced signal at 200 °C in relation to untreated/wood; therefore, they were more thermostable. The fire-retardancy test showed that flame time in CaCO3/wood composites was longer than for untreated/wood in half of the species tested, presenting a positive effect of mineralization. Wood density, decay resistance, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) in flexion, and MOR in compression were slightly affected by mineralization. Water absorption increased, but it had no negative effect on the dimensional stability. In general, mineralization can be a chemical treatment to increase the dimensional stability and fire resistance of hardwood species without modifying the wood’s physical and mechanical properties.

Magnetic wood is a composite material that achieves harmony between both woody and magnetic functions through the active addition of magnetic characteristics to the wood itself. In addition to showing magnetic characteristics, magnetic wood offers low specific gravity, humidity control and acoustic absorption ability. It has potential for broad applications in the fields of electromagnetic wave absorption, electromagnetic interference shielding, furniture, etc. This work reports on the synthesis of Fe

Torrefaction can increase the energy yield of biomass for better utilization in bioenergy, but chemical changes occur during the pretreatment process. Wood residues of Cupressus lusitanica, Dipteryx panamensis, Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, and Vochysia ferruginea were torrefied for three different time periods (8, 10, and 12 min) and three different temperatures (200, 225, and 250 °C). The mass loss, net calorific value, ash, volatiles, lignin, cellulose, extractives, and infrared spectra were evaluated. The results showed that the mass loss in torrefied biomass varied between 10% and 70%, ash content varied between 0.19 and 7.00%, and volatiles content varied between 63 and 85%. Net calorific value values varied between 17 and 23 MJ/kg, increasing with the increased torrefaction temperature. Cellulose varied between 49.85 and 67.57%. Lignin varied between 27.33 and 41.09%. The extractives varied between 3.70 and 16.86%. The change in the ratio of intensity (RI) for the bands identified using FTIR analyses showed that large changes occurred in hemicellulose components. The multivariate analysis showed that lignin, ash, extractives in hot water, volatiles, and mass loss were the variables that contributed most. The analysis of all these variables showed that torrefaction at 250 °C for 12 min presented the greatest biomass degradation. Torrefaction at 200 °C and 225 °C for 8, 10, and 12 min was optimal for thermal treatment of the biomass of these woody species.

La torrefaccion y peletizacion se han estudiado en la generacion de calor a partir de residuos lignocelulosicos, para incrementar las propiedades energeticas del material. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue torrefaccionar aserrin de Gmelina arborea y Dipteryx panamensis a 200 °C en tres tiempos: 0, 15 y 20 minutos. Con las biomasas obtenidas se fabricaron pellets de 6 mm de diametro y se evaluaron sus propiedades fisicas, el poder calorico, la densidad y la propiedad mecanica de resistencia a la compresion. Ambas especies presentaron caracteristicas fisicas similares con respecto al diametro (0.50 mm), longitud (21.50 mm) y porcentaje de absorcion de agua (6.00 %). El poder calorico aumento de 9,749 kJ·kg-1 en la biomasa sin torrefaccionar a 18,126 kJ·kg-1 en la biomasa torrefaccionada. Los pellets de D. panamesis presentaron mayor densidad y resistencia a la compresion que los de G. arborea . Con base en los resultados, la resistencia a la compresion del pellet disminuye cuando el tiempo de torrefaccion aumenta. Existe correlacion positiva entre la densidad de los pellets y la resistencia a la compresion. La especie D. panamensis presenta mejor comportamiento a la torrefaccion y peletizacion que la madera de G. arborea .

The purpose of the biomass torrefaction and pelletizing processes is to increase its energy properties, be environmentally friendly, decrease shipping costs, and make handling easier. The objective of the present work is to evaluate the density, internal density variation by X-ray densitometry, moisture content, water absorption, and compression force of torrefied biomass pellets of five wood species (Cupressus lusitanica, Dipterix panamensis, Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, and Vochysia ferruginea) under three torrefaction temperature conditions (light, middle, and severe) and three torrefaction times (8, 10, and 12 min). The results showed that the bulk density of the pellets was 0.90–1.30 g/cm3. The density variation of the pellets was higher with torrefaction at 250 °C. The moisture content decreased with increasing torrefaction temperature from 3% to 1%. Water absorption was lower in the pellets torrefied at 250 °C. The compression force was lower in the pellets torrefied at 250 °C with approximate loads of 700 N. Based on the above results, it was concluded that pellets made with biomass torrefied at 200 °C have better energy properties and evaluated properties. According to these results, pellets fabricated with the torrefied biomass of tropical species can be used in stove, gas, and hydrogen production because the pellet presents adequate characteristics.

Se cuantificaron las propiedades energéticas de la biomasa torrefaccionada de dos especies forestales, Dipteryx panamensis y Gmelina arborea. Se tomaron 500 gramos de aserrín provenientes del proceso de aserrío primario de cada especie y se dividió en tres partes para aplicar tres tipos de tiempos a la exposición de temperatura, denominado como tratamientos: el tratamiento número 1 es el testigo, el cual no se torrefaccionó (0 minutos). El tratamiento número 2 consistió en aplicar una temperatura de 200 °C por 15 minutos, y el tratamiento número 3 consistió en aplicar una temperatura de 200 °C por 20 minutos. A este se le determinó densidad, contenido de cenizas, poder calórico, contenido de humedad e índice de combustibilidad. Las densidades de ambas especies variaron entre 155,48 kg/m3 a 191,86 kg/m3. El poder calórico paso de 9749,00 kJ/kg a 18126,35 kJ/kg con el proceso de torrefacción. Los porcentajes de cenizas se mantuvieron en un rango de 0,39 % a 1,07 %, y para el índice de combustibilidad en un rango de 109,31 a 6675,93; los valores más bajos los presentó el tratamiento a 0 minutos en ambas especies. Se logró determinar que la torrefacción incrementa las propiedades energéticas del material y que Dipteryx panamensis fue la que presentó un mejor comportamiento como combustible.