Identification of new hydroxy fatty acids and ferulic acid esters in the wood of Eucalyptus globulus

The chemical composition of the dichloromethane extract of Eucalyptus globulus wood cultivated in Portugal was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, prior to and after alkaline hydrolysis. In addition to previously identified lipophilic extractives, 22 free or esterified compounds (14 fatty acids, 2 fatty alcohols and 6 aromatic compounds) were identified for the first time in E. globulus wood. One of these, ferulic acid, was esterified with three different fatty alcohols and with two alpha-hydroxyfatty acids. Some of the newly identified compounds, particularly the alpha-hydroxyfatty acids are responsible for recently reported pitch problems during pulp production in a Portuguese mill. The differences found in the E. globulus chemical composition, when compared with published data, are expected to be related to variations in the location of growth and genetic factors.