The effect of pre-treatment solutions and time on acetylation of wood flour using vinegar

4^th International Conference and Exhibition on Materials Science & Engineering

September 14-16, 2015 Orlando, USA

Yakubu Azeh1, Gabriel Ademola Olatunji2, Abdulkareem Zulehat1, Muhammad Dagaci Zago1 and Umar Musa Tanko1

1Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Nigeria 2University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

Effect of pre-treatments and time on acetylation wood flour obtained from four different wood species grown in Nigeria using vinegar was investigated. Similar weight gains in acetyl were obtained despite varied pre-treatment procedure employed and acetylation of samples increased with increasing time of acetylation. This research work has shown that commercial house hold bleach could be used as substitute for NaOH for fiber pre-treatment and other solvents used for removal of wood extractives. FTIR spectroscopy was very vital in providing evidence of the success of acetylation as it was used for characterization of important functionalities of acetylated products. Important absorptions in the acetate group were detected and these include; C-O, C=O, -CCH 3-, and the reduction in -OH absorptions also showed that some level of acetylation occurred. This work further opens door to new application of vinegar in wood industry for surface modification of wood and lignocellulosic fibers for various applications.

Biography :

Email: yakubuazeh@gmail.com