Development of a thermally-modified program to Hevea brasiliensis chemical characterization and a study of biological degradation of wood

• Grant number: 13/15372-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: February 01, 2014
• End date: January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Technology and Use of Forest Products
• Principal Investigator: Elias Taylor Durgante Severo
• Grantee: Elias Taylor Durgante Severo
• Host Investigator: Brian Bond
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, United States

Abstract

In Brazil the exploration and utilization of Hevea brasiliensis Mull Arg. wood is virtually unknown and this species is being used mostly for energy (firewood). However, at the end of the latex production cycle It can be used as a source of income for producers of latex. Meantime, one of the limitations of this kind of wood is the low natural durability to fungi. Another undesirable feature of this wood is the strong presence of juvenile wood. One way to minimize these problems is the thermally-modified wood after drying. Meanwhile with the thermally-modified treatment some changes in the wood chemical composition occur and a detailed study of these changes can explain the improvement of some properties that characterize the timber. Thus, the main objective is to develop a thermal modification program to Hevea brasiliensis and evaluate the effect of this treatment on the chemical and biological resistance to decay fungi. Therefore, boards of this species will be thermally-modified at temperatures and times to be determined during the project development. Of this thermally-modified wood will be removed samples from adult and juvenile regions for characterization of the basic chemistry and HPLC, as well as the biological resistance to fungal. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DURGANTE SEVERO, ELIAS TAYLOR; CALONEGO, FRED WILLIANS; SANSIGOLO, CLAUDIO ANGELI; BOND, BRIAN. Changes in the Chemical Composition and Decay Resistance of Thermally-Modified Hevea brasiliensis Wood. PLoS One, v. 11, n. 3, MAR 17 2016. (13/15372-0)