Content (Syllabus outline)
Wood structure. Basical chemical concepts-repetition. Systematics of chemical compounds of wood and elemental composition of wood.
Occurrence and function of carbohydrates in wood.
Cellulose: occurrence, structure and properties of molecule, polymorphism of cellulose, supramolecular structure of native cellulose, micro- and macro-fibrils, function in the cell wall.
Hemicelluloses of wood: terminology, classification and definitions; basic building units; chemical structure of mannans, xylans, galactans and glucans; content in hardwoods and softwoods.
Occurrence of pectins in wood; definitions, structural units of molecules, chemical composition of homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonans.
Lignin: occurrence, structural units and formation of lignin macromolecule, structural models of softwoods and hardwoods lignin, types of lignin, lignin-polysaccharide complex. Variability of lignin content in wood. Function in the cell wall.
Suberin: occurrence in wood and other tree tissues, chemical structure and function.
Extractives of wood: occurrence, definitions, systematics; terpenes and terpenoids, phenolic extractives, fats, waxes, fatty acids and sterols of softwoods and hardwoods. Tannins of softwoods and hardwoods. Anorganic constituents.
Prerequisites
1. Prerequisites for the work:
- entry in the corresponding year of the study programme
2. Terms of prerequisites:
- attendance at tutorials
- laboratory report