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Polysaccharide degradation in waterlogged oak wood from the ancient warship Vasa

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Published/Copyright: December 5, 2007
Holzforschung
From the journal Volume 62 Issue 1

Abstract

A rather extensive degradation of cellulose and hemicelluloses was found in waterlogged oak wood samples from the ancient warship Vasa by size exclusion chromatography with the solvent system lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc). The degradation has mainly occurred after salvage of the wreck, probably as a consequence of keeping iron contaminated wood in contact with air. The most likely explanation is Fenton type of reactions degrading the wood polymers and oxidising reduced sulphur forms to sulphuric acid. An increased degradation rate of the Vasa wood can be anticipated in the future if the sulphuric acid cannot be neutralised and the oxidative reactions cannot be quenched.

Keywords: degradation; iron; oak wood; size exclusion chromatography (SEC); sulphur; waterlogged wood
Corresponding author. STFI-Packforsk AB, Box 5604, SE-114 86 Stockholm, Sweden Phone: +46-8-6767210, Fax: +46-8-4115518,
Received: 2007-5-9
Accepted: 2007-8-28
Published Online: 2007-12-05
Published in Print: 2008-1-1

©2008 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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  1. Meetings
  2. Evaluation of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden biopulping with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora under non-aseptic conditions
  3. Paper dry strength improvement by xyloglucan addition: Wet-end application, spray coating and synergism with borate
  4. A new and facile method for isolation of lignin from wood based on complete wood dissolution
  5. Isolation and characterization of lignins from Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. by enzymatic mild acidolysis (EMAL)
  6. Fractionation and characterization of xylan rich extracts from birch
  7. Polyoxometalate (POM) oxidation of lignin model compounds
  8. Pyrolytic cleavage mechanisms of lignin-ether linkages: A study on p-substituted dimers and trimers
  9. Polysaccharide degradation in waterlogged oak wood from the ancient warship Vasa
  10. Degradation of polyethylene glycol and hemicellulose in the Vasa
  11. Selection criteria of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. for production of chemithermomechanical pulps (CTMP)
  12. The effect of (induced) dislocations on the tensile properties of individual Norway spruce fibres
  13. Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness of densified Sitka spruce fabricated in an airtight atmosphere with high-temperature steam
  14. Characteristic properties of embedding strength for the nailing of the gonfolo rose (Qualea rosea Aubl.)
  15. Adhesive penetration of wood cell walls investigated by scanning thermal microscopy (SThM)
  16. Laboratory screening of tropical hardwoods for natural resistance to the marine borer Limnoria quadripunctata: The role of leachable and non-leachable factors
  17. Decay resistance of wood treated with amino-silicone compounds
  18. Hydrothermal treatment of mixed preservative-treated wood waste
  19. Variation of tracheid length within annual rings of Scots pine and Norway spruce
https://doi.org/10.1515/HF.2008.008
Keywords for this article
degradation; iron; oak wood; size exclusion chromatography (SEC); sulphur; waterlogged wood

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Meetings
  2. Evaluation of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden biopulping with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora under non-aseptic conditions
  3. Paper dry strength improvement by xyloglucan addition: Wet-end application, spray coating and synergism with borate
  4. A new and facile method for isolation of lignin from wood based on complete wood dissolution
  5. Isolation and characterization of lignins from Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. by enzymatic mild acidolysis (EMAL)
  6. Fractionation and characterization of xylan rich extracts from birch
  7. Polyoxometalate (POM) oxidation of lignin model compounds
  8. Pyrolytic cleavage mechanisms of lignin-ether linkages: A study on p-substituted dimers and trimers
  9. Polysaccharide degradation in waterlogged oak wood from the ancient warship Vasa
  10. Degradation of polyethylene glycol and hemicellulose in the Vasa
  11. Selection criteria of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. for production of chemithermomechanical pulps (CTMP)
  12. The effect of (induced) dislocations on the tensile properties of individual Norway spruce fibres
  13. Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness of densified Sitka spruce fabricated in an airtight atmosphere with high-temperature steam
  14. Characteristic properties of embedding strength for the nailing of the gonfolo rose (Qualea rosea Aubl.)
  15. Adhesive penetration of wood cell walls investigated by scanning thermal microscopy (SThM)
  16. Laboratory screening of tropical hardwoods for natural resistance to the marine borer Limnoria quadripunctata: The role of leachable and non-leachable factors
  17. Decay resistance of wood treated with amino-silicone compounds
  18. Hydrothermal treatment of mixed preservative-treated wood waste
  19. Variation of tracheid length within annual rings of Scots pine and Norway spruce
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