INCREASED PINE TANNINS EXTRACTION AND WOOD ADHESIVES DEVELOPMENT BY PHLOBAPHENES MINIMIZATION

The phlobaphenes formation and precipitation during sulphite/water extraction of pine tannins from pine bark was minimized by blocking tannin self-condensation by the addition of small amounts of a strong nucleophile such as phloroglucinol, m-phenylenediamine and urea, the latter due to its low cost for industrial application. These inhibitors reacted preferentially with the reaction intermediates formed in the tannins self-condensation mechanism, stopping the reaction reaching the molecular rearranged precipitates known as phlobaphenes. The principle of inhibition appears to be effective at both the laboratory and industrial level. The results of laboratory and industrial extractions and the results of the adhesives from the modified pine tannin extract/urea adducts obtained are presented. The pine tannin/urea extracts proved to yield good thermosetting wood adhesives for panel products. The minimization of phlobaphenes precipitation increased the yield from 19% to 25% industrial scale.