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Fenton-induced degradation of polyethylene glycol and oak holocellulose. A model experiment in comparison to changes observed in conserved waterlogged wood

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Published/Copyright: November 6, 2008
Holzforschung
From the journal Volume 62 Issue 6

Abstract

Degradation of polysaccharides and polyethylene glycol have recently been observed in the wood of the Swedish war-ship Vasa. The signs of degradation are highly correlated to the presence of iron compounds, indicating iron initiated reactions of Fenton type. In order to test this hypothesis pure polyethylene glycol (PEG, Mw=1500 u) and prepared oak holocellulose were oxidized by hyddroxyl radicals induced by Fenton's reagent [Fe(II)/H2O2] in aqueous solution. The changes in molar weight distribution (MWD) were analysed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography. The changes in MWD were consistent to random scission of the polymers according to statistical simulations. By NMR analysis the main PEG degradation products formed were identified as PEG molecules with different end groups: alcohols, aldehydes and formate esters; the latter hydrolyse to formic acid. The all over results show close similarities to the situation observed in the Vasa wood and strengthen the hypothesis of oxidative degradation initiated by iron compounds in the wood.

Keywords: acetic acid; cellulose; formic acid; glycolic acid; hemicelluloses; iron; oxalic acid; polyethylene glycol; sulfur; Vasa; wood degradation; xylan
Corresponding author. Department of Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7015, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Received: 2008-7-25
Accepted: 2008-8-6
Published Online: 2008-11-06
Published in Print: 2008-11-01

©2008 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Original Papers
  2. Soda–AQ delignification of poplar wood. Part 1: Reaction mechanism and pulp properties
  3. Soda-AQ delignification of poplar wood. Part 2: Further degradation of initially dissolved lignins
  4. Effect of autohydrolysis of Eucalyptus globulus wood on lignin structure. Part 1: Comparison of different lignin fractions formed during water prehydrolysis
  5. Effect of autohydrolysis of Eucalyptus globulus wood on lignin structure. Part 2: Influence of autohydrolysis intensity
  6. Extraction of galactoglucomannan from spruce wood with pressurised hot water
  7. Determination of ethylenic residues in wood and TMP of spruce by FT-Raman spectroscopy
  8. Quantitative assessment of total phenol contents of European oak (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur) by diffuse reflectance NIR spectroscopy on solid wood surfaces
  9. Valence band spectroscopy on lignin
  10. Analysis of acids and degradation products related to iron and sulfur in the Swedish warship Vasa
  11. Fenton-induced degradation of polyethylene glycol and oak holocellulose. A model experiment in comparison to changes observed in conserved waterlogged wood
  12. Towards novel wood-based materials: Chemical bonds between lignin-like model molecules and poly(furfuryl alcohol) studied by NMR
  13. Manufacture of laminated strand veneer (LSV) composite. Part 1: Optimization and characterization of thin strand veneers
  14. Manufacture of laminated strand veneer (LSV) composite. Part 2: Elastic and strength properties of laminate of thin strand veneers
  15. Flexural, in-plane shear and nail shear properties of falcataria-rubberwood laminated veneer board for flooring
  16. Impedance spectroscopy and circuit modeling of Southern pine above 20% moisture content
  17. Sorption and thermodynamic properties of juvenile Pinus sylvestris L. wood after 103 years of submersion
  18. Iron and calcium translocation from pure gypsum and iron-amended gypsum by two brown rot fungi and a white rot fungus
  19. Ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer of indoor wood-decay fungi
  20. Short Notes
  21. Analysis of thermally treated wood samples using dynamic FT-IR-spectroscopy
  22. Observation of the influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of wood adhesives by nanoindentation
  23. Book review
  24. Identification of the timbers of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific
  25. Personalia
  26. Prof. Dr. Olaf Schmidt retired at 65
  27. Contents Volume 62
  28. Contents Volume 62 (2008)
  29. Meeting
  30. Meetings
  31. Acknowledgement
  32. Acknowledgement
  33. Author index
  34. Author index
  35. Species index (scientific names)
  36. Species index (scientific names)
  37. Subject index
  38. Subject index
https://doi.org/10.1515/HF.2008.129
Keywords for this article
acetic acid; cellulose; formic acid; glycolic acid; hemicelluloses; iron; oxalic acid; polyethylene glycol; sulfur; Vasa; wood degradation; xylan

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Original Papers
  2. Soda–AQ delignification of poplar wood. Part 1: Reaction mechanism and pulp properties
  3. Soda-AQ delignification of poplar wood. Part 2: Further degradation of initially dissolved lignins
  4. Effect of autohydrolysis of Eucalyptus globulus wood on lignin structure. Part 1: Comparison of different lignin fractions formed during water prehydrolysis
  5. Effect of autohydrolysis of Eucalyptus globulus wood on lignin structure. Part 2: Influence of autohydrolysis intensity
  6. Extraction of galactoglucomannan from spruce wood with pressurised hot water
  7. Determination of ethylenic residues in wood and TMP of spruce by FT-Raman spectroscopy
  8. Quantitative assessment of total phenol contents of European oak (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur) by diffuse reflectance NIR spectroscopy on solid wood surfaces
  9. Valence band spectroscopy on lignin
  10. Analysis of acids and degradation products related to iron and sulfur in the Swedish warship Vasa
  11. Fenton-induced degradation of polyethylene glycol and oak holocellulose. A model experiment in comparison to changes observed in conserved waterlogged wood
  12. Towards novel wood-based materials: Chemical bonds between lignin-like model molecules and poly(furfuryl alcohol) studied by NMR
  13. Manufacture of laminated strand veneer (LSV) composite. Part 1: Optimization and characterization of thin strand veneers
  14. Manufacture of laminated strand veneer (LSV) composite. Part 2: Elastic and strength properties of laminate of thin strand veneers
  15. Flexural, in-plane shear and nail shear properties of falcataria-rubberwood laminated veneer board for flooring
  16. Impedance spectroscopy and circuit modeling of Southern pine above 20% moisture content
  17. Sorption and thermodynamic properties of juvenile Pinus sylvestris L. wood after 103 years of submersion
  18. Iron and calcium translocation from pure gypsum and iron-amended gypsum by two brown rot fungi and a white rot fungus
  19. Ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer of indoor wood-decay fungi
  20. Short Notes
  21. Analysis of thermally treated wood samples using dynamic FT-IR-spectroscopy
  22. Observation of the influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of wood adhesives by nanoindentation
  23. Book review
  24. Identification of the timbers of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific
  25. Personalia
  26. Prof. Dr. Olaf Schmidt retired at 65
  27. Contents Volume 62
  28. Contents Volume 62 (2008)
  29. Meeting
  30. Meetings
  31. Acknowledgement
  32. Acknowledgement
  33. Author index
  34. Author index
  35. Species index (scientific names)
  36. Species index (scientific names)
  37. Subject index
  38. Subject index
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