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Due to climate change, the risk of forest fires has increased in Europe, resulting in challenges in the allocation of salvaged wood. We studied the raw material potential for wood products of Norway spruce and Scots pine sawn log trees that remained standing after a large forest fire in Kalajoki, Finland, in July 2021. Eight burned trees, with four reference trees per species, were sampled as standard specimens, and measurements were analyzed with linear mixed models. The effects of fire on the modulus of elasticity and rupture, Brinell hardness, moisture gradient, and color were measured on clear wood specimens of sapwood and heartwood. The wood density, level of fire damage, and height location of a tree were used as additional predictors. The results show some changes in the sapwood material. Spruce wood underwent stronger changes after the fire than pine wood, probably due to spruce wood having a thinner bark and a longer crown. The moisture content decreased in spruce, and the color darkened in both spruce and pine. Changes in the mechanical properties were mostly negligible, but a small increase in the Brinell hardness in spruce and a small decrease in the modulus of rupture in pine were observed. Fresh salvaged wood can be a suitable material for middle-quality and lower-quality wood products. The spread of char and soot into wood and wood processing machinery still limits its usage, especially for spruce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannins from Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) bark were extracted with water at different temperatures (60–140 °C) in an ASE-350 system in order to optimize yield. In addition, the effect of chemicals such as urea, sodium bisulfite (NaHSO 3), sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3), and sodium benzoate on the yield was also investigated. Bark from debarking processes at both a sawmill and a pulp mill were included. The highest overall yield expressed as total dissolved solids (TDS) was obtained with hot water extraction of spruce bark at 140 °C. The TDS was 117 mg/g and it contained 47 mg/g tannins. With an increase in extraction temperature over 100 °C, the proportion of tannins decreased, whereas the proportion of carbohydrates increased. The addition of sodium carbonate improved yield within a 60–90 °C temperature range compared with pure water. Other chemicals did not improve the yield. Pine bark showed similar extraction yields to spruce bark but the proportion of tannins was lower in spruce than in pine. Pure water at 110 °C was chosen to be used for piloting in larger scale 300-liter extraction vessel. Based on the results, a machine-learning approach was applied using seemingly unrelated regression models (SUR). The models were able to predict the extracted tannin yields of spruce and pine bark when extractions were scaled up to 2 liters and then to 300 liters. [Display omitted] • Industrial Norway spruce and Scots pine bark was extracted in three different reactor scales with water and chemical additions. • Extraction conditions for tannin yield were optimised in laboratory scale. • Usability of tannin containing extract in adhesives were assessed with Stiasny number. • Machine learning model was created to predict scaling up results based on laboratory scale extractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Softwood bark is an important by-product of forest industry. Currently, bark is under-utilized and mainly directed for energy production, although it can be extracted with hot water to obtain compounds for value-added use. In Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) bark, condensed tannins and stilbene glycosides are among the compounds that comprise majority of the antioxidative extractives. For developing feasible production chain for softwood bark extractives, knowledge on raw material quality is critical. This study examined the fate of spruce bark tannins and stilbenes during storage treatment with two seasonal replications (i.e., during winter and summer). In the experiment, mature logs were harvested and stored outside. During six-month-storage periods, samples were periodically collected for chemical analysis from both inner and outer bark layers. Additionally, bark extractives were analyzed for antioxidative activities by FRAP, ORAC, and H2O2 scavenging assays. According to the results, stilbenes rapidly degraded during storage, whereas tannins were more stable: only 5–7% of the original stilbene amount and ca. 30–50% of the original amount of condensed tannins were found after 24-week-storage. Summer conditions led to the faster modification of bark chemistry than winter conditions. Changes in antioxidative activity were less pronounced than those of analyzed chemical compounds, indicating that the derivatives of the compounds contribute to the antioxidative activity. The results of the assays showed that, on average, ca. 27% of the original antioxidative capacity remained 24 weeks after the onset of the storage treatment, while a large variation (2–95% of the original capacity remaining) was found between assays, seasons, and bark layers. Inner bark preserved its activities longer than outer bark, and intact bark attached to timber is expected to maintain its activities longer than a debarked one. Thus, to ensure prolonged quality, no debarking before storage is suggested: outer bark protects the inner bark, and debarking enhances the degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bark of Norway spruce and Scots pine trees contain large amounts of condensed tannins. Tannins extracted with hot water could be used in different applications as they possess antioxidative and antimicrobial activities. The use of bark tannins as e.g., food preservatives calls for increases in our knowledge of their antioxidative activities when applied in foodstuffs. To assess the ability of bark tannins to prevent lipid oxidation, hot water extracts were evaluated in a liposome model. Isolated tannins were also applied in dry-cured, salty meat snacks either as liquid extracts or in dry-powder form. Consumer acceptance of the snacks was tested by a sensory evaluation panel where outlook, odor, taste, and structure of the snacks were evaluated and compared to a commercial product without tannin ingredients. Our results show that conifer bark tannin-rich extracts have high capacity to prevent lipid oxidation in the liposome model. The efficacies of pine and spruce bark extracts were ten to hundred folds higher, respectively, than those of phenolic berry extracts. The bark extracts did not significantly influence the odor or taste of the meat snacks. The findings indicate that bark extracts may be used as sustainable food ingredients. However, more research is needed to verify their safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Forest industry side-streams showed antiviral, antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. • Both wood hemicelluloses and bark polyphenols decreased erythrocyte hemolysis. • Bark polyphenols protected against Coxsackievirus A9 infection. • Cell-based experiments showed non-toxic in vitro profile of extracts. This study aimed to characterise pressurised hot water (PHW) extracts from nonconventional sources of functional carbohydrates and phenolic compounds in terms of antioxidant capacity, antiviral activity, toxicity, and human erythrocytes' protection antidiabetic potential. PHW extracts of Norway spruce bark (E1 + E2) and Birch sawdust (E3 + E4) contained mostly galactoglucomannan and glucuronoxylan. In contrast, samples E5 to E9 PHW extracted from Norway spruce, and Scots pine bark are rich sources of phenolic compounds. Overall, phenolic-rich extracts presented the highest inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase and protection against stable non-enveloped enteroviruses. Additionally, all extracts protected human erythrocytes from hemolysis. Cell-based experiments using human cell lines (IMR90 and A549) showed extracts' non-toxic in vitro profile. Considering the relative toxicological safety of extracts from these unconventional sources, functional carbohydrates and polyphenol-rich extracts can be obtained and further used in food models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The losses of condensed tannins remained low with temperatures not exceeding 50 °C. • Total dissolved solids decreased by 10–24 % during 26–34 -h drying schemes. • Stilbene losses up to 60 % were found; most of them occurred in the first 10 h. Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) bark contains marked amounts of polyphenolic compounds. Condensed tannins (CTs) and stilbenes show commercial potential as antioxidants, antimicrobials, preservatives in food and cosmetic applications, technochemical products, and pharmaceuticals. Storing of bark before the conversion process leads to substantial losses of extractives compounds. In the present study, the potential of thermal drying for maintaining extractives content was assessed based on an experiment in which bark samples were dried in convection kilns at 40, 50, 60, and 70 °C temperatures. The development of CTs and stilbene contents and CT degradation were followed for 28–34 h. CTs were analysed from bark samples with thiolysis. Quantities of stilbene glycosides and stilbene aglycones in water-acetone extracts were analysed applying gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (GC-FID). Multilevel regression analysis was used to analyse the statistical differences in moisture content and extractives composition between the drying schemes. The initial CT content of 35–36 mg g−1 in dry bark material declined to 25–31 mg g-1 in 28–34 h. The average degree of polymerisation (DP) decreased slightly, and the relative proportion of prodelphinidins in CTs increased significantly in the 60 and 70 °C schemes. The proportion of A-type linkages slightly increased with the increase in drying temperature. The initial mean stilbene contents varied from 19 mg g−1 to 22 mg g−1 in dry bark mass. Isorhapontin was the major stilbene constituent, with a proportion of 45–49 % of the total stilbenes. Stilbene losses of up to 60 % were detected during the drying processes. In 10 h, for example, 36–43 % of total stilbenes were lost. Degradation activities by enzymes released from the bark and oxidative reactions after crushing at the debarking phase were concluded to be the primary mode of degradation. The results indicate that bark CT content can be preserved at a moderate temperature not exceeding 50 °C, but the degradation of CTs may affect their suitability for various applications. Sufficient stilbene content for industrial processes is unlikely to be maintainable through thermal drying. The permanence of the post-drying extractives content should be assessed based on a practical-scale storage experiment using bark dried to varying moisture contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous extracts from blackcurrant press cake (BC), Norway spruce bark (NS), Scots pine bark (SP), and sea buckthorn leaves (SB) were obtained using maceration and pressurized hot water and tested for their bioactivities. Maceration provided the extraction of higher dry matter contents, including total phenolics (TPC), anthocyanins, and condensed tannins, which also impacted higher antioxidant activity. NS and SB extracts presented the highest mean values of TPC and antioxidant activity. Individually, NS extract presented high contents of proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, and some phenolic acids. In contrast, SB contained a high concentration of ellagitannins, ellagic acid, and quercetin, explaining the antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects. SP and BC extracts had the lowest TPC and antioxidant activity. However, BC had strong antiviral efficacy, whereas SP can be considered a potential ingredient to inhibit α-amylase. Except for BC, the other extracts decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in HCT8 and A549 cells. Extracts did not inhibit the production of TNF-alpha in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 macrophages but inhibited the ROS generation during the THP-1 cell respiratory burst. The recovery of antioxidant compounds from these by-products is incentivized for high value-added applications. [Display omitted] • Maceration enhances the extraction of bioactive compounds from industrial byproducts. • Norway spruce bark (NS) extract and sea buckthorn leaves (SB) are rich sources of antioxidant compounds. • NS had the highest inhibition of rat's brain oxidation, and SB showed toxicity to a cancerous cell. • Blackcurrant press cake (BC) revealed strong anti-viral effect toward enterovirus. • Scots pine bark (SP) extract is a potential ingredient to inactivate α-amylase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]