Characterization of lipophilic wood extractives from clones of Eucalyptus urograndis cultivate in Brazil

Abstract

The chemical compositions of the lipophilic extractives from four clones of Eucalyptus urograndis cultivated in Brazil were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) before and after alkaline hydrolysis. The four E. urograndis clones showed similar amounts of dichloromethane soluble (lipophilic) extractives (0.38-0.55% w/w). The major groups of compounds identified in the lipophilic fraction of extractives consisted mainly of fatty acids (mainly palmitic linoleic and oleic acids and small amounts of a- and w-hydroxyacids), steroids (mainly b-sitosterol, b-sitostanol), followed by minor amounts long chain aliphatic alcohols, hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds. The relative abundances of these groups were similar for three of the clones with exception of the clone Ugc, which was shown to have much higher amounts of fatty acids and sterols. The high amounts of extractives found in these clones, and particularly of Ugc, when compared with other Eucalyptus species, suggests an increased risk of pitch formation during bleached pulp production.