STEAM EXPLOSION OF PINUS-RADIATA BARK

The steam explosion of Pinus radiata bark has been studied. The effect of time, temperature, and bark moisture content upon water-leachable colour after steam treatment, and upon the extractives, lignin, carbohydrate, inorganic constituents, and the bark matrix have been examined. The process of steam explosion condensed the tannins and flavonoids to form less-extractable species, whilst generating extractable carbohydrate material. The yield of water-insoluble bark matrix after steam explosion remained almost constant (80-82% of original material) over the range of treatment conditions examined.