• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.178-188
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro potential of water extract from torrefied oak wood as a natural antioxidant. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was assessed by employing different in vitro assays, including reducing power, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)], and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant potential) assays. The DPPH activity of the extract was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Measurement of total flavonoid content of water extract from torrefied oak wood was achieved using an aluminum chloride colorimetric assay; the extract contained 192.12 mg/g flavonoid, which was significantly high when compared with standard quercetin. The results obtained in this study indicate that water extract from torrefied oak wood has significant potential for use as a natural antioxidant agent.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.96-105
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• 2016

This study investigated thermal properties and activation energy ($E_a$) of torrefied oak wood powders treated with various torrefaction times (0, 5, 7.5, 10 min) by using non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis at heating rates of 10, 20, $40^{\circ}C/min$ to check the feasibility of rapidly torrefied oak wood powders as a fuel. As the torrefaction time increases, onset of thermal decomposition temperature, lignin content, and the amount of final residue of torrefied oak wood powders were accordingly increased with reduced hemicellulose content. $E_a$ was determined by using Friedman and Kissinger models and respective R-square values were over 0.9 meaning very good availability of calculated $E_a$ values. The $E_a$ values of the samples were decreased with the increase of torrefaction time and the lowest $E_a$ value ob served in the torrefied oak wood powders treated for 7.5 min showed high feasibility of rapidly torrefied oak wood powder as a biomass-solid refuse fuel.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.135-143
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• 2015

This study evaluated fuel properties of composite materials which were prepared by mixing a waste activated carbon from the used purifier filter with torrefied wood powder. Wood species of the raw material of torrefied wood powder are oak wood (Quercus serrata Thunb. ex Murray) and pine wood (Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc). And the treatment conditions used for this study were 300 s, 450 s, and 600 s at $200^{\circ}C$ for the wood roaster. Also, the mixing ratios are 5 : 95, 10 : 90, 15 : 85, 20 : 80, 40 : 60, 60 : 40 and 80 : 20 (waste activated carbon : torrefied wood powder). The fuel properties such as highly heating value (HHV), elementary analysis and ash content were evaluated. The results obtained are followings; 1. Despite the same treatment condition of wood roasting, pine wood has higher carbon contents than oak wood. Therefore, pine wood indicated the optimum carbonization at low temperature and short treatment times. 2. The gross calorific value and ash content increased as the mixing ratio of waste activated carbon increased. 3. Mixtures of the waste activated carbon and torrefied wood powder showed greater gross calorific value than those of the mixtures of waste activated carbon and the untreated wood powder. Also, the pine wood resulted in higher heating value that thaose of the oak wood. 4. When composite fuels that were composed waste activate carbon and wood powder are used, higher temperature conditions are required because the combustion is incomplete at $800^{\circ}C$ and 4 hours. 5. The increasing rate of the gross calorific value of mixtures of waste activated carbon and untreated wood powder is higher than does the mixtures of waste activated carbon and torrefied wood powder. Also, this phenomenon is more obvious for pine woods. Therefore, an optimal mixing ratio of waste activated carbon was determined to be between 5% and 10% (wt%). Also, this condition satisfied the requirement of the No.1 grade of wood pellet.