One Step Regioselective Acylation of Polyphenolic Wood Extractive and Its Application for Wood Treatment

Abstract

This study evaluated the methods of grafting commercial catechin with fatty acids, namely capric acid (C10), lauric acid (C12), and myristic acid (C14) through esterification. Specimens of beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) were impregnated with catechin and modified catechin-fatty acids, separately, at a 5% concentration diluted in ethanol using vacuum pressure treatment and subjected to leaching. The weight percentage gain before leaching (WPG), after leaching (WPGAL), and weight loss due to leaching (PL) were investigated. Both leached and unleached samples were tested against white-rot fungi (Trametes versicolor) in Petri-dishes for twelve weeks. Results show that samples treated with modified catechin-fatty acids provide improved resistance towards leaching. Catechin-C14 was found to be more promising, possibly due to its chain length. The decay weight loss for samples treated with modified catechin-fatty acids does not differ significantly between the samples that leached and not. Despite the antifungal properties of catechin, the treatment with catechin alone was insufficient to protect wood samples from fungi. Further, it is recommended to increase the concentration level of modified catechin to obtain a significant effect on the decay resistance.