ANALYSIS OF THE WOOD SORPTION ISOTHERM USING CLUSTERING THEORY

The Zimm-Lundberg cluster theory was used to characterise water adsorption and desorption for wood isotherms at 10, 25, 40 and 55-degrees-C. The analysis showed that clustering of water molecules begin to form at approximately 20% moisture content for adsorption and begin to break up at 25%. moisture content for desorption. The isotherm can be divided into three regions describing the adsorption process and at least two regions describing the desorption process. Water in wood has a different behavior in adsorption to desorption processes.