油处理技术的发展——用棕榈藤生产高附加值产品

棕榈藤行业有一个普遍的不足,就是乡村产品的质量,尤其是家具质量的低劣,这不是因为藤质量或性能差,而是因为所采用的加工工艺落后。油处理指新鲜藤在热油中或油混合物中脱青。用该技术是为了改善藤的淡奶色的表皮,最后变成受欢迎的象牙色。同时,经过油处理,能大幅减少新鲜藤的含水率(30%～70%)。这有助于提高抵御真菌侵袭的能力。由于改善了藤表皮的颜色,产品的品质也由此提高了很多。经处理的藤有更好的出口潜力和国内市场,是改善贫困乡村生计的保证。这样,油处理技术能提高藤产品的品质和持久性,提高资源高效利用和高附加值利用,实现全球藤的可持续发展。

Advances in Oil Curing Technology for Value-added Aesthetic Products from Rattans

One common complaint in the rattan trade that the quality of the rural products, especially furniture is poor is not due to that the rattans are with inferior quality or properties, but due to the inadequate processing practices followed. Curing the freshly cut green rattan (cane) in hot oil/oil mixtures, termed oil curing, is a technique that can be employed for improving the dull creamy skin color/appearance to an ivory white which is of much demand. Significant reduction in moisture content (30～70%) due to oil curing of freshly cut green canes helps to reduce the chances of immediate fungal attack. Because of the improved skin color, the aesthetic beauty of the products prepared from oil cured canes will be enhanced. Better export potential as well as domestic marketability of the oil cured canes ensures livelihood improvement for the poor rural folk. Thus,adoption of oil curing technique for better aesthetic appearance and enhanced durability of the products can be a footstep for achieving sustainable development of global rattan sector by efficient and value-added utilization of the available resources.The present paper reviews the work done in the Kerala forest Research Institute, India, for optimizing the oil curing conditions; including the effect of various oil mixtures, curing temperature and duration on the physical and mechanical properties as well as skin color. The advances achieved in the design of the curing tub and heating system; from mud hearth using fuel wood to the use of kerosene stove and round burners, later with LPG and longitudinal burners incorporating fire-safety precautions, are detailed. The use of kerosene alone or a mixture of 9:1 ratio by volume of diesel and coconut oil was identified as the best curing oil medium for imparting the desired ivory white color. Curing at a temperature below the boiling condition of the oil medium for duration of 20 minutes for small diameter, 30 minutes for medium and 45 minutes for large diameter rattans were found to be the optimum curing conditions capable to bring the desired color shade without adversely affecting the physical and mechanical properties of cured rattans.