Colour responses of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) to solvent extraction and heat treatment

Abstract

The colour parameters (CIE L*a*b*) of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) wood meals extracted with seven solvents and heated under saturate vapour at 120°C are measured and the UV–vis spectrum analysis of dioxane extractives is performed to investigate the influence of extraction and thermal treatment on wood discolouration. The results show that extractions with polar solvents such as water, ethanol and dioxane can cause substantial decrease of b* but have little effect on a* and that extractions with less or non-polar solvents such as chloroform, ether and hexane can hardly influence both a* and b*. Extractions with ethanol and dioxane can also increase the optical reflection (L*) and arise a higher ΔE change than that with less or non-polar solvents. Heat treatment has much more influence on colour parameters than extractions do. After heat treatment, the lightness index of all the samples declines but a* value increases. The discolouration during thermal treatment is mainly due to the existence of polar extractives. Tannins, flavonoids and hydroxyanthraquinones are found in the dioxane extractives. The heated dioxane extractives have an obvious absorption between 400 and 600 nm. The condensation of the tannin molecules and the oxidation of the hydroxyl groups in flavonol molecules make up the potential reason of the formation of new colour substances during heat treatment. The elimination of the dioxane extractives can effectively reduce the extent of thermally induced discolouration.