Changes of major chemical components in larch wood through combined treatment of drying and heat treatment using superheated steam

The effects of the combined treatment of drying and heat treatment using superheated steam (SHS) were studied relative to the changes of the major chemical components in larch wood. The green lumber was dried and heat-treated in SHS conditions of 250 °C and 0.5 MPa for 18 h, and the relative percentage contents of sugars, lignin, and extractives were investigated and compared with the relative percentage contents in the lumber heat-treated in hot air conditions of 250 °C and atmospheric pressure for 18 h. After both heat treatment methods, the relative percentage contents of xylan, mannan, galactan, and arabinan were greatly decreased, whereas that of the Klason lignin was increased, additionally that of glucan and extractives remained almost unchanged. Lignin may bind with furan compounds decomposed from hemicellulose following heat treatment, thus contributing to the increase in the apparent relative percentage contents of the Klason lignin. In addition, the condensate collected in the condenser after combined drying and heat treatment using SHS was investigated qualitatively and quantitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A large amount of furfural and acetic acid decomposed from hemicellulose was detected and some sugar components composed of cellulose and hemicellulose were detected in the liquid condensate.