Impact Factor: 2.493

Published since January 1, 1947

Holzforschung

Cellulose – Hemicelluloses – Lignin – Wood Extractives

ISSN: 1437-434X

Editor-in-chief: Lennart Salmén

Editorial Board: Geoffrey Daniel, Holger Militz, Thomas Rosenau, Herbert Sixta, Tapani Vuorinen, Dimitris S. Argyropoulos, Yu Balakshin, J. R. Barnett, Ingo Burgert, Jose C. del Rio, Dmitry V. Evtuguin, Charles E. Frazier, Kazuhiko Fukushima, Wolfgang Gindl-Altmutter, W. G. Glasser, Bjarne Holmbom, Akira Isogai, John F. Kadla, Gerald Koch, Dominique Lachenal, Christiane Laine, Shawn D. Mansfield, J.J. Morrell, Peter Niemz, Antje Potthast, Arthur J. Ragauskas, John Ralph, Robert W. Rice, Tor P. Schultz, Jussi Sipilä, Toshiyuki Takano, Hans Theliander, Johannes Welling, Stefan Willför, Hiroshi Yoshihara

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About this journal

Objective
Holzforschung (HF) is an international scholarly journal that publishes cutting-edge research on the biology, chemistry, physics and technology of wood and wood components. High quality papers about biotechnology and tree genetics are also welcome. Rated year after year as one of the top scientific journals in the category of Pulp and Paper (ISI Journal Citation Index), Holzforschung represents innovative, high quality basic and applied research. The German title reflects the journal's origins in a long scientific tradition, but all articles are published in English to stimulate and promote cooperation between experts all over the world. Ahead-of-print publishing ensures fastest possible knowledge transfer.

Topics

Biology, chemistry, physics and technology of wood and wood components
Biotechnology and tree genetics

Article formats
Original articles, Reviews, Short notes

> Information on submission process

Your Benefits

Your benefits:

Cutting-edge research
Interdisciplinary approach
High quality basic and applied research
Ahead-of-print online publications

History

Holzforschung was founded in 1947. At the start, German was the sole publishing language of Holzforschung. In 1955 it became also possible to publish in French and English, and in 1993 the journal switched to an English only publication. This change was necessary as after World War II German was no longer the leading language in the natural sciences. With the significant rise in international attention and distribution, Holzforschung paid tribute to the linguistic needs of the wood science community around the world.

Other publications in the field
Wood Composites. Materials Manufacturing and Engineering. J. Paulo Davim, Alfredo Aguilera (Eds.) De Gruyter. 2016.
Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal

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Volume 77 Issue 3

March 2023

Publicly Available March 6, 2023

Frontmatter

Page range: i-iii

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Original Articles

January 24, 2023

Wood with improved hydrophobicity and thermal stability after depositing polydimethysiloxane/silica sol hybrid

Jingjing Du, Yu Jiang, Jun Jiang, Jiamin Wang, Jiaocheng Pan, Changtong Mei

Page range: 127-138

Abstract

To improve hydrophobicity and thermal stability, polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) emulsion and silica sol were used for depositing organic/inorganic hybrid coatings in wood. PDMS emulsion could provide the hydrophobic film to improve the hydrophobicity and dimensional stability owing to its low-surface-energy. Silica sol could significantly enhance the surface hardness and thermal stability due to its penetration in cell walls, indicating the pore-filling effect in wood. Moreover, in the hybrid system, silica incorporation in PDMS emulsion helped to form integrate coatings in wood via Si-O-Si cross-linked networks. The hydrophobicity, surface hardness and thermal stability of treated wood were related to the loadings of silica sol in the PDMS. Stiff silica could compensate the negative effect on thermal stability caused by PDMS, and synergistically improve the surface hydrophobicity and hardness of wood. This work opens a facile method to produce bio-based materials with satisfied hydrophobicity and thermal stability to be used in humid environments.

Open Access January 20, 2023

Evaluation of the dissolving ability of cellulosic pulps: investigation of a novel method using light scattering follow-up during classical cellulose carbanilation

Andrea Vera-Loor, Elsa Walger, Nathalie Marlin, Gérard Mortha

Page range: 139-148

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Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the dissolving ability of a cellulosic substrate using a derivatization method, i.e. cellulose tricarbanilation and the follow-up by dynamic light scattering (DLS), for particle size measurement. The dissolving behavior of six commercial pulps, selected for their different nature and properties, were compared to the Fock test, and the analysis was completed by other methods for substrate characterization: crystallinity (XRD), DPv (in CuED), sugar analysis, molecular weight distribution (MWD) of cellulose by HPSEC-multidetectors (done on the cellulose tricarbanilates), and solubility in NaOH:urea:water. The proposed carbanilation/DLS method resulted practical and suitable for evaluating the dissolving ability of the different pulps – including hemicelluloses-containing kraft pulps – and allowed to discriminate the samples, contrary to the Fock test. Comparison and assessment of the relevance of the different methods are finally discussed.

January 26, 2023

Mild depolymerization of alkaline lignin in a formic acid-choline chloride type deep eutectic solvent system

Penghui Li, Xiaoyu Li, Zhengwei Jiang, Xuewen Xu, Yongcan Jin, Wenjuan Wu

Page range: 149-158

Abstract

The degradation of lignin can generate a variety of products with diverse applications. Lignin is abundant on earth; however, its high molecular weight and stable properties impede its development. Currently, acid-catalyzed degradation of lignin is a relatively common and promising catalytic method, particularly DES catalytic degradation, which is not only environmentally friendly but also features an excellent degradation effect. This report discusses the degradation mechanism and effect of the formic acid-choline chloride DES system for the degradation of alkaline lignin. According to fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 1 H-NMR spectroscopy, it is evident that the phenolic hydroxyl content of lignin increases after degradation, which indicates the cleavage of β - O -4′ ether bonds in the macromolecular structure. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was employed to determine the molecular weight of degraded lignin, and regenerated lignin with low molecular weight and low dispersibility was obtained. The minimum average molecular weight ( M w ) was 2.3 × 10 3 g/mol. During the depolymerization process, it was also discovered that the repolymerization and degradation reactions formed a competitive relationship. The lignin oil contained primarily propanoic acid ethyl ester, acetic acid butyl ester, 2-methoxy-4-propyl phenol, 2-methoxy phenol, and apocynin, as determined by GC-MS.

Open Access January 26, 2023

On the hydrothermal depolymerisation of kraft lignin using glycerol as a capping agent

Anders Ahlbom, Marco Maschietti, Rudi Nielsen, Merima Hasani, Hans Theliander

Page range: 159-169

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Abstract

Depolymerisation of kraft lignin under hydrothermal conditions was investigated at short residence times (1–12 min) with glycerol being used as a capping agent. The weight average molecular weight ( M w ) of the products decreased within the first minute of residence time, with the inter-unit ether linkages breaking accordingly. Furthermore, the M w of the product fractions decreased at increasing residence times, while the char yield increased. Short residence times thus appear to be beneficial for mitigating the formation of char. Also, addition of NaOH reduced the yield of char. Although the addition of glycerol caused a decrease in the M w of the products, it seemed to increase the yield of char and therefore might not be a suitable capping agent for kraft lignin depolymerisation.

January 26, 2023

Improved dimensional stability and mechanical properties of rubberwood via modification with maleated lignin and densification

Zhizun Gao, Wenjing Wang, Fanjun Yu, Yonggui Wang, Zefang Xiao, Yanjun Xie

Page range: 170-183

Abstract

Rubberwood was modified using a two-step process involving impregnation with maleated lignin (ML) followed by densification. The effects of ML modification and densification on the physical and mechanical properties of modified wood were studied. The successful preparation of ML was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In addition, scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the densified rubberwood structure, which featured fully compressed cell walls and cell lumina filled with ML. The rubberwood modification resulted in a more uniform structure and increased density compared to untreated wood. Further, water immersion and moisture absorption experiments revealed thickness swelling of only 27.7% and 20.9%, a reduction of nearly 76% and 55%, respectively, compared to the densified wood that was only impregnated with water. The ML modification can alleviate the embrittlement of wood caused by densification. The modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of ML-treated and densified wood improved by nearly 54% and 200%, respectively, compared to untreated wood. Therefore, the synergistic treatment strategy can contribute to the high-value utilization of low-quality rubberwood.

January 30, 2023

Insight into the mechanism underlying modification of Neosinocalamus affinis by hygrothermal treatment

Qiming Feng, Yanhui Huang, Rongjun Zhao, Benhua Fei

Page range: 184-197

Abstract

Hygrothermal treatment is an effective method for improving the dimensional stability of bamboo. In this study, changes in the physicochemical properties of Neosinocalamus affinis after hygrothermal treatment were comprehensively investigated: the hemicellulose content decreased, C=O in the acetyl group and the hydroxyl content decreased and xylan was partially degraded. The dimensional stability of N. affinis gradually increased with temperature, and optimal values were obtained at 220 °C, as indicated by a 16.5% decrease in anti-swelling efficiency and a 93.7% increase in contact angle. Alterations in the macromolecular structure of lignin were also observed: the contents of β-O-4 linkages and p -coumarate decreased by 54.3% and 23.9%, respectively; β-5 linkages disappeared at 220 °C, as determined by heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopy. However, the maximum values for crystallinity, nano indentation elastic modulus, and hardness were reached at 180 °C and were higher than those of the untreated samples by 8.6%, 19.9%, and 23.5%, respectively. With the combined application of physical mechanics and dimensional stability, hygrothermal treatment at 180 °C and 100% relative humidity was proved to exert the optimal effects on N. affinis . These results provide new and comprehensive insights into the mechanism allowing the modification of N. affinis by hygrothermal treatment.

Open Access January 4, 2023

Degradation assessment of archaeological oak (Quercus spp.) buried under oxygen-limited condition

Amir Ghavidel, Amin Jorbandian, Miklós Bak, Jana Gelbrich, Jeffrey J. Morrell, Ion Sandu, Reza Hosseinpourpia

Page range: 198-207

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Abstract

The biological deterioration of archaeological wood under oxygen-limited conditions varies due to the limited activities of microorganisms. It is essential to expand the knowledge of the degradation types and the status of archaeological monuments for selecting the proper consolidates. The physical, chemical, and anatomical properties of approximately 600–650 year old archaeological oak collected from an archaeological site in Iasi-Romania were analysed to assess the quality and to identify the degradation types. The results were compared with similar tests on recently-cut oak. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the presence of more lignin-related peaks in the archaeological oak, which likely reflected the degradation of the wood carbohydrates as evidenced by the decreased oxygen-to-carbon ratio C ox / C non-ox . The differences in cellulose crystallinity were not significant suggesting that any cellulose degradation occurred in the amorphous regions. This was also reflected in the dynamic water vapor sorption analysis where the differences in sorption isotherms and hysteresis of archaeological and recently-cut oaks were marginal. Microscopic analysis of the oak cells illustrated bacterial degradation patterns, while the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed the presence of erosion bacteria in the archaeological oak collected from the site with low oxygen conditions.

January 24, 2023

Differences in dry shrinkage of bamboo rings with multiple heights and radians based on vascular bundle group

Ying Zhang, Haocheng Xu, Jing Li, Tuhua Zhong, Hankun Wang

Page range: 208-217

Abstract

Moso bamboo is widely used in production due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, fast growth and renewability. Meanwhile, bamboo’s dimension is highly sensitive to moisture, resulting in cracking and other defects easily. This study aimed to investigate the changes in cracks, bamboo ring shapes, fiber sheath area and volume fraction, and vascular bundle group shapes from the green state to the absolute-dry state, using the target detection model and Python fitting technique. The results showed that the radius of the vascular bundle group increased while its radian and arc length decreased with a decrease in the moisture content. The decrease in the cross-sectional area was greater than that in the wall thickness and arc length. The dry shrinkage of the fibers was greater than that of the rest tissues, which was an important part of the shrinkage of bamboo rings. Obvious cracks mainly appeared in the bamboo ring with a complete radian of 2π, while almost no or very limited cracks were seen in other rings with incomplete radians. This study further elaborated on the dry shrinkage changes and differences in bamboo rings, which might be beneficial to restrain the deformation and cracking of bamboo products effectively.

Ahead of Print / Just Accepted

Ahead of Print / Just Accepted

Volume 77 (2023)

Volume 76 (2022)

Volume 75 (2021)

Volume 74 (2020)

Volume 73 (2019)

Volume 72 (2018)

Volume 71 (2017)

Volume 70 (2016)

Volume 69 (2015)

Volume 68 (2014)

Volume 67 (2013)

Volume 66 (2012)

Volume 65 (2011)

Volume 64 (2010)

Volume 63 (2009)

Volume 62 (2008)

Volume 61 (2007)

Volume 60 (2006)

Volume 59 (2005)

Volume 58 (2004)

Volume 57 (2003)

Volume 56 (2002)

Volume 55 (2001)

Volume 54 (2000)

Volume 53 (1999)

Volume 52 (1998)

Volume 51 (1997)

Volume 50 (1996)

Volume 49 (1995)

Volume 48 (1994)

Volume 47 (1993)

Volume 46 (1992)

Volume 45 (1991)

Volume 44 (1990)

Volume 43 (1989)

Volume 42 (1988)

Volume 41 (1987)

Volume 40 (1986)

Volume 39 (1985)

Volume 38 (1984)

Volume 37 (1983)

Volume 36 (1982)

Volume 35 (1981)

Volume 34 (1980)

Volume 33 (1979)

Volume 32 (1978)

Volume 31 (1977)

Volume 30 (1976)

Volume 29 (1975)

Volume 28 (1974)

Volume 27 (1973)

Volume 26 (1972)

Volume 25 (1971)

Volume 24 (1970)

Volume 23 (1969)

Volume 22 (1968)

Volume 21 (1967)

Volume 20 (1966)

Volume 19 (1965)

Volume 18 (1964)

Volume 17 (1963)

Volume 16 (1962)

Volume 15 (1961)

Volume 14 (1960)

Volume 13 (1959)

Volume 12 (1958)

Volume 11 (1958)

Volume 10 (1957)

Volume 9 (1955)

Volume 8 (1954)

Volume 7 (1953)

Volume 6 (1952)

Volume 5 (1951)

Volume 4 (1950)

Volume 3 (1949)

Volume 2 (1948)

Volume 1 (1947)

5-year Impact Factor	2.435
Cite Score	4.0
Impact Factor	2.493
Journal Citation Indicator	1.00
SCImago Journal Rank	0.487
Source Normalized Impact per Paper	0.970

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Submission
You can easily submit your manuscript online. Simply go to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/holz and you will be guided through the whole peer-reviewing and publishing process.

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Rapid online publication ahead-of-print with short turnaround times
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Submission process

Before submitting your article please have a look at our Instructions_for_Authors
Submission of your paper via our submission management tool
Peer review process (you will be guided through every step)
Decision on your paper (4-6 weeks for submission to first decision)
When manuscripts are accepted subject to revision, the revised manuscript should be returned within approx. 60 days
Accepted papers are promptly published online ahead-of-print as soon as they have been finally processed

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Manuscripts must be written in clear and concise English
Before submitting your article please have a look at our Ethical Guidelines and our Copyright Transfer Agreement
Once your article is accepted you have the option to publish it open access
Our Repository Policy allows you to distribute 30 PDF copies of your published article to colleagues (the PDF has to include the information that it is an author's copy). Please also feel free to distribute the link to the online abstract
If you have any general questions please visit our FAQ for authors or contact us at: Holzforschung.Editorial@degruyter.com

We look forward to receiving your manuscript!

Hybrid Open Access

In this journal, authors have the option to publish their article under an open access license. Open Access allows you as an author to retain copyright and share your findings with colleagues and interested parties worldwide without any restraints.
Please note that authors from institutions with which we have a transformative agreement can publish open access without paying an article processing charge (APC). More information on the eligible institutions and articles can be found under the "Funding and Support" tab here.

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief
Lennart Salmén, Sweden

Editorial Board
G. Daniel, Sweden
H. Militz, Germany
T. Rosenau, Austria
H. Sixta, Austria
T. Vuorinen, Finland

Advisory Board
D.S. Argyropoulos, USA
M.Y. Balakshin, USA
J. Barnett, UK
I. Burgert, Switzerland
D.V. Evtuguin, Portugal
C.E. Frazier, USA
K. Fukushima, Japan
G. Gellerstedt, Sweden
W. Gindl-Altmutter, Austria
W.G. Glasser, USA
B. Holmbom, Finland
A. Isogai, Japan
J.F. Kadla, Canada
M. Kleen, Finland
G. Koch, Germany
D. Lachenal, France
S.D. Mansfield, Canada
J.J. Morrell, USA
P. Niemz, Switzerland
A. Potthast, Austria
A.J. Ragauskas, USA
J. Ralph, USA
R.W. Rice, USA
U. Schmitt, Germany
T.P. Schultz, USA
J. Sipilä, Finland
J. Welling, Germany
S.M. Willför, Finland
H. Yoshihara, Japan

Editorial Office
Gunda Stöber
Holzforschung
Dr Gruyter
Genthiner Strasse 13
10785 Berlin, Germany
Tel. ++49-30-26005-279
E-mail: Holzforschung.Editorial@degruyter.com

(Deutsch)

Online ISSN: 1437-434X
Print ISSN: 0018-3830
Type: Journal
Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
First published: January 1, 1947
Publication Frequency: 12 Issues per Year
Audience: Researchers in the field of biology, chemistry, physics and technology of wood and wood components