Gamma irradiation has been considered a potential alternative technique for the sterilization and disinfestation of wood; however, quantitative evaluation of molecular-level changes in wood components remains limited. The primary objective of this stu...
Gamma irradiation has been considered a potential alternative technique for the sterilization and disinfestation of wood; however, quantitative evaluation of molecular-level changes in wood components remains limited. The primary objective of this study was to assess molecular weight changes in wood holocellulose induced by gamma irradiation and to conservatively correct the cellulose molecular weight within holocellulose for degradation occurring during pretreatment.
Delignification pretreatment using the Wise method is essential for molecular weight analysis of wood holocellulose, but it may induce cellulose degradation. Because wood contains hemicellulose and lignin, its degradation behavior during pretreatment may differ from that of pure cellulose. To address this, pure cellulose filter paper was employed as a model material to quantify the reduction in the degree of polymerization associated with Wise treatment, and a degradation rate constant was determined.
The obtained correction factor was applied to molecular weight analysis of wood samples, allowing estimation of an upper-bound correction for the cellulose molecular weight within holocellulose. Using the corrected analytical approach, a decreasing trend in the molecular weight and degree of polymerization of holocellulose was observed with increasing irradiation dose, and differences in molecular weight changes were identified among wood species.
This study applies a correction strategy based on pure cellulose degradation behavior to avoid overestimation of cellulose degradation in real wood systems. The proposed approach provides a reliable framework for interpreting molecular weight data of gamma irradiated wood.