The potential of Wacapou (Vouacapoua americana) extracts to develop new biobased protective solutions for white woods

IRG/WP 24-20724

E Kieny, K Candelier, L Milhe, Y Estevez, C Sophie, R Lehnebach, J Damay, D Florez, E Hoël, M-F Thevenon, J Bossu

The valorisation of Amazonian wood residues into active chemical compounds could be an eco-friendly, cost effective and valuable way to develop wood preservatives formulations in order to enhance the decay and termite resistances of low durable wood species, by impregnation processes. Wacapou (Vouacapoua spp., Fabaceae) is a well-known Guianese wood species for its use in local wood construction and for its outstanding natural durability due to the presence of a large panel of extractives compounds. In addition, its industrial processing generates large amounts of residues. Wacapou residues were extracted by maceration process using four different solvents (water/ethanol, ethyl acetate, hexane and dichloromethane/methanol), separately and successively. Yields of each extractives fraction were determined and their chemical composition were analysed by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Ethyl acetate led to the highest extraction yield and the presence of active compounds were identified in the obtained extractive’s fraction. In this sense, the fungicidal and termite repellent properties of these extractives were then tested using screening laboratory (using temperate and tropical microorganisms), according to the solution concentration (1, 2.5, 5, 8 and 10%). Finally, Virola michelii wood samples (low durable species) were impregnated with the 8% concentration solution. The impregnated wood samples were then exposed to soil bed test. The results highlighted that the nature of the solvent used during wood maceration affects the content of the obtained extractive fractions. UHPLC-HRMS analyses showed the influence of extraction parameters on the nature of the extracted molecules. Wacapou’s extracts (from ethyl acetate maceration) showed good anti-fungal and anti-termite activities. In addition, the concentration in extractives had an impact of the anti-termite activity level for Reticulitermes and Cryptotermes sp. Finally, formulation based on Wacapou extractives showed a good potential towards its valorisation in preservatives in order to confer a better durability to local low durable wood species, to replace conventional pollutant products.


Keywords: anti-fungal and anti-termite activities, conferred durability, eExtractives, impregnation, Guianese species, wood by-products

Conference: 24-05-19/23 Knoxville, USA


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