Tree Resin, a Macroergic Source of Energy, a Possible Tool to Lower the Rise in Atmospheric CO2 Levels

Abstract

Tree resin is a macroergic component that has not yet been used for energy purposes. The main goal of this work is to determine the energy content of the resin of spruce, pine, and larch and of wood components—pulp and turpentine. The combustion heat of resin from each timber was determined calorimetrically. Approximately 1.0 g of liquid samples was applied in an adiabatic calorimeter. The energy values of the tree resin (>38.0 MJ·kg−1) were 2.2 and 2.4 times higher than that of bleached and unbleached cellulose, and the highest value was recorded for turpentine (>39.0 MJ·kg−1). Due to the high heating values of the resin, it is necessary to develop approaches to the technological processing of the resin for energy use. The best method of resin tapping is the American method, providing 5 kg of resin ha−1 yr−1. The tapped resin quantity can be raised by least 3 times by applying a stimulant. Its production cost compared to other feedstocks was the lowest. Tree resin can be applied as a means of mitigating global warming and consequently dampening climate change by reducing the CO2 content in the atmosphere. One tonne of tree resin burned instead of coal spares the atmosphere 5.0 Mt CO2.

Carbon Sequestration in Resin-Tapped Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) Subtropical Plantations

“…Resin duct area and size have been shown to strongly correlate with resin yield in slash pines of three different locations in China [94]. Moreover, it is well known that pine resin biosynthesis responds to a multitude of intrinsic and environmental factors, such as plant genetics, age, water, temperature, and mineral nutrient availability, among others [13,18,74,76,78] as discussed above in Sections 4.3 and 4.4. As expected, sulfuric acid plus ethylene stimulant paste application increased significantly the production of resin.…”

“…Pine resin is a nonwoody terpene-based biomass that has a high value to the chemical industry [9,11,12]. Resin is also considered a great renewable energy source due to its high calorific (or heating) value, which surpasses that of forest tree woods and its components (e.g., bleached, and unbleached wood pulp) [13]. Despite being constitutively produced in high amounts by some Pinus species, its biosynthesis can also be induced by mechanical and chemical treatments [11,[14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

The impact of resin harvest history on properties of Scots pine wood tissue

“…Tree resin is widely used in many industrial sectors, predominantly for chemical and pharmaceutical purposes. Raw resin obtained directly from the tree stem must be converted to by-products, such as rosin or turpentine, which then can be used subsequently in the production of cleaners, inks, oils, detergents, solvents, pesticides, adhesives, and many other products (Tomusiak and Magnuszewski 2009;Demko and Machava 2022). Additionally, recent studies suggest a potential function of resin as a natural energy source, which might emit less CO2 to the atmosphere than other commonly used sources (e.g., Demko and Machava 2022).…”

CuAPO-5 as a Multiphase Catalyst for Synthesis of Verbenone from α-Pinene

“…Turpentine is a natural product that can be obtained by distilling pine resin [1]. Turpentine can also be obtained as a by-product in the paper industry [2].…”

“…1 Weak acidity = ammonia desorption in about 170 • C 2. Moderate acidity = ammonia desorption in about 255 • C 3.…”