Biorefining of Wood Feedstock: Production of a Hemicellulose-Based Bioadhesive. P. 133–149

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UDС

674-416; 674.049.3

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-3-133-149

Abstract

A resource-efficient biorefining technology for lignocellulosic feedstock has been developed to obtain a wood dehydration resin (WDR) as a bio-adhesive. The process is implemented directly from hemicelluloses via steam-phase hydrolysis followed by drying in an oxygen-containing atmosphere and is suitable for industrial scale. It was demonstrated that when drying of the hydrolysate mass, acid-catalyzed dehydration of pentoses occurs with the formation of reactive carbohydrate intermediates and their subsequent oligomerization/ carbonization (“humic-like” condensates); the average molecular weight of water-soluble products increases from ~195 to ~296 Da. FTIR data register signatures of dehydration of the carbohydrate phase (attenuation of OH bands at 3350–3400 cm⁻¹ and C–O/C–O–C bands at 1150–1040 cm⁻¹) and an increase in carbonyl groups (1705–1710 cm⁻¹), while ¹³C NMR shows increased contributions of C=O and O-alkyl centers without distinct aromatic or furan signatures, consistent with the formation of a condensed humic-like network. The resin gelating was observed at 180 °C within 22–27 s; upon addition of H₂SO₄ ≥ 6 % (based on resin solids) the gel becomes water-insoluble. High-density fiberboards (HDF) produced with the resin exhibited enhanced water resistance (thickness swelling 6–21 % after 24 h), which is comparable to modern bio-adhesives and outperforms typical starch-based formulations in water resistance. Formaldehyde emission by the WKI method was as low as 1.7 mg/100 g. These results align with current trends in lignin-, tannin-, and polysaccharide-based bioadhesives, demonstrating the possibility of eliminating formaldehyde while maintaining acceptable physico-mechanical properties.

Authors

Sergey D. Pimenov¹*, Candidate of Engineering, Junior Research Scientist; ResearcherID: AAC-9435-2020, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6042-0021
Alexander I. Sizov¹, Candidate of Engineering, Assoc. Prof.; ResearcherID: AAI-2030-2020, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9412-5557
Igor V. Kruchina-Bogdanov², Candidate of Chemistry; ResearcherID: JTU-2141-2023, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5779-5404
Alexander A. Dobrovolsky¹, Candidate of Agriculture, Assoc. Prof.; ResearcherID: ABF-7706-2020, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6816-4912
Sofya R. Mambetova¹, Postgraduate Student; ResearcherID: OVZ-9120-2025, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4617-7824

Affiliation

¹Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University, Institutskiy per., 5, Liter U, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 194021; chudopim@mail.ru*, alexander-83@yandex.ru, sofya.mam@icloud.com
²OOO “AMT”, PO Box 70, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197022; igogo011@gmail.com

Keywords

biorefining, wood-based composites, adhesive systems, dehydration, oligomerization, hemicellulose hydrolysis, bioeconomy, renewable feedstock

For citation

Pimenov S.D., Sizov A.I., Kruchina-Bogdanov I.V., Dobrovolsky A.A., Mambetova S.R. Biorefining of Wood Feedstock: Production of a Hemicellulose-Based Bioadhesive. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2026, no. 3, pp. 133–149. (In
Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-3-133-149

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