Fatty and Waxy Components of Southern Pine Bark-Amounts Present As Free Extractives

Abstract

Whole bark from six mature trees of each of the four major southern pines was extracted with petroleum ether and with toluene. Trees were 20 to 58 years old and 8.0 to 11.8 inches in d.b.h. Percentages of petroleum ether-solubles were: slash pine, 1.94; loblolly, 2.29; longleaf, 2.64; and shortleaf 3.05. Percentages obtained by toluene extraction were: loblolly, 3.04; slash, 3.18; longleaf, 3.38; shortleaf, 3.77. Extractives were light to medium yellow, resinous in odor, and slightly tacky. Several procedures for removing these components from aqueous and ethanolic alkali extracts were tried, including organic solvent extraction of basic and acidified extracts, and acidification and filtration followed by solvent extraction. None of the methods increased the yield of lipids, and products were generally softer and stickier than those obtained by direct extraction.

Keywords

Bark utilization, chemical composition, extractives, fatty acids, neutrals, Pinus echinata, P. elliottii var. elliottii, P. palustris, P. taeda

Citation

Howard, Elaine T. 1975. Fatty and Waxy Components of Southern Pine Bark-Amounts Present As Free Extractives. Res. Note SO-204. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 4 p.