The current work aims at the study of the biological degradation of archaeological European white elm via microscopy and chemical analysis in order to identify the kind of biological degradation and characterize the state of preservation of this type of wood. Profound knowledge of the chemical constituents and biological degradation in fresh-cut and archaeological elm wood will simplify the process of restoration and conservation of the investigated artifacts. Therefore, fresh-cut and archaeological elm were compared in terms of extractive, chlorite holocellulose, α-cellulose, lignin, and ash contents. In the fresh-cut elm wood, the contents of Kürschner–Hoffer cellulose, chlorite holocellulose, α-cellulose, and hemicellulose were significantly higher than that of the archaeological elm, confirmed by the degradation of native wood hemicelluloses by erosion bacteria during soil contact. Naturally, the mass percentage of lignin increases as the amount of chlorite holocellulose in the wood decreases. These wet chemistry results were also confirmed by FTIR analysis, where bands mainly attributed to hemicellulose and cellulose decreased significantly and bands belonging to lignin display higher intensity for the archaeological specimens. Ash and cyclohexane–ethanol extract contents of archaeological elm wood were significantly higher due to the movement of mineral components arising out of the soil into the wood specimens. Based on the microscopic investigation and given the fact that wood decay fungi need oxygen to degrade wood and the investigated archaeological elm specimens were buried to a 10 m depth in the soil, we might conclude that the wood degradation was caused by erosion bacteria.
Posidonia oceanica leaves (seagrass) are collected almost in all the Mediterranean seashores as spoils and disturbing material with additional cost for removal from the coastline. Seagrass, however, is known for its interesting properties, such as decay, fire and moisture resistance as well as insulation. Research for using this material in composing boards was initiated. This study looks into the possibility of using these waste marine plants for the production of alternative building material in the form of pressed panels. The paper describes the pretreatment of seagrass leaves before their processing for composite boards and the examination of its final product. The residence time for salts desorption was also determined. The main processes analyzed were the binder spraying and panel forming. Mechanical properties were evaluated by the standardized flexural tests. In addition, swelling properties were investigated. Results obtained from testing and observation of boards indicated that seagrass leaves are propitious for the application in construction and furniture industry.
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