Evaluation of hydrocarbon emissions from heart- and sapwood of Scots pine using a laboratory-scale wood drier

The subject of study is the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) during the drying of wood. Heartwood and sapwood from Scots pine were dried at different temperatures (50, 70 and 90°C) in a laboratory kiln. The sampling method, Solid Phase Microextraction was used to collect the different volatile organic compounds during the drying. The gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer was used to identify and quantify the organic matter. The total hydrocarbons were measured with a flame ionization detector. Primarily, different monoterpenes were released during the drying process. 3-carene and α-pinene were most common and were also analytically quantified. The diterpene, pimaral, was found in an estimated large amount in the later stage of the drying process but was not exactly quantified. Large differences in both release behavior and total amount of released hydrocarbon between heart- and sapwood were obtained. Emissions of VOC from heartwood were of a magnitude approximately three times higher than that from sapwood.