Chemical, Crystallinity and Morphological Changes of Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg.) Hydrothermally Treated in Different Buffered Media

Hydrothermal treatment is an efficient and environmentally friendly method of enhancing the dimensional stability durability wood. The destructive effects formic acetic acids generated during thermal treatment, on other hand, are known to have a negative impact wood strength. As result, hydrothermal in different buffered media (acidic, neutral, alkaline buffer) was performed this study mitigate acids. heating media, acidic buffer (pH 4 6), 8 10), tap water 7.43) were used treat rubberwood at three temperatures (160 °C, 180 200 °C). chemical components, crystallinity, morphological changes treated untreated studied. results experiments revealed that constituents changed along with pH temperature. Rubberwood showed least degradation, whereas medium caused most severe degradation. crystallinity increased initially (from 160 °C) then decreased further °C. In addition, minimal damage cell observed medium.