Bio-oil from base-catalyzed depolymerization of organosolv lignin as an antifungal agent for wood

From the paper

Abstract

The development of value-added lignin products from industrial residues of pulping is still a challenge. The present study was aimed to use oil obtained from organosolv lignin by base-catalyzed depolymerization at 300 °C for 40 min as a wood-protecting agent. First, the bio-oil was diluted to 1 wt% into an acetone and water solution, and physicochemical properties such as density, pH and viscosity were analyzed. After that, Pinus sp. sapwood samples were impregnated with the diluted oil solution (WAO). The treated wood samples were characterized in terms of color variation, hardness (Shore D) tests, scanning electron microscope, pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy through attenuated total reflectance (ATR-IR) and mass loss after fungal attack. The inhibition effect of the oil solution was tested against Trametes versicolor (l. Ex fries) Pilat. The application of the oil solution in the wood improved significantly its fungal resistance as the mass loss was considerably lower in the treated samples.