Methods
Summary
Attain Balsa or Bass wood (Control) and cut wood samples in the transverse orientation with a band saw. Sand the surfaces to eliminate saw marks. Prepare or attain a 30% wt H2O2 bleaching solution and a 10% NaOH solution for oxidation. Brush NaOH over desired bleaching area; subsequently, apply H2O2 in the same manner. Place wood samples under a UV-A light for photocatalysis of the lignin depolymerization. Afterward, immerse the bleached (lignin-modified) samples in ethanol for 5 hrs., then rinse sufficiently with toluene. Allow for some time to pass and infiltrate epoxy resin through the bleached wood samples with a vacuum chamber and pump for 1.5 hrs. Allow the resin to cure. The following day, prepare analytical procedures.
Perform experiment protocol with a.) various hardwood species, b.) different transverse and longitudinal cuts, and c.) different reagents (other than toluene/differing conc. of H2O2).
Pre Analysis Plan
FTIR for the chemical composition of lignin at the natural, bleached, and transparent wood (N-, B-, and TW) stages. Scanning Electron Microscopy for the structural analysis of the cell walls at the N-, B-, and TW stages. Transparency meter for the transmittance analysis of newly developed wood pieces; only at the TW stage.
Protocols
Browse the protocols that are part of the experimental methods.