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Updated: May 25, 2026

Reducing Willow Wood Fuel Emission by Low Temperature Microwave Assisted Hydrothermal Carbonization
Published on: May 19, 2019
Thermal decomposition of wood: influence of wood components and cellulose crystallite size
Matheus Poletto1, Ademir J Zattera, Maria M C Forte
1Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Minas, Metalúrgica e de Materiais, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. mpolett1@ucs.br
Abstract:
The influence of wood components and cellulose crystallinity on the thermal degradation behavior of different wood species has been investigated using thermogravimetry, chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction. Four wood samples, Pinus elliottii (PIE), Eucalyptus grandis (EUG), Mezilaurus itauba (ITA) and Dipteryx odorata (DIP) were used in this study. The results showed that higher extractives contents associated with lower crystallinity and lower cellulose crystallite size can accelerate the degradation process and reduce the wood thermal stability. On the other hand, the thermal decomposition of wood shifted to higher temperatures with increasing wood cellulose crystallinity and crystallite size. These results indicated that the cellulose crystallite size affects the thermal degradation temperature of wood species.
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