EFFECT OF ENZYMATIC PRETREATMENT ON THE DIFFUSION OF SODIUM-HYDROXIDEIN WOOD

The effect of enzyme pretreatment of woods relative to the diffusion o f sodium hydroxide was investigated. Enzymes were applied to the sapwo od of river birch (Betula nigra), red maple (Acer rubrum), southern re d oak (Quercus falcata), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), and southern pine (Pinus taeda). The diffusio n coefficients were measured in the tangential and longitudinal direct ions for each species. A 6 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment was used to an alyze the effects of species, diffusion direction, and enzyme pretreat ment on the mean rate of diffusion in wood. The diffusion of sodium hy droxide in the tangential direction was increased by at least 15% in h ardwoods and by approximately 60% in southern pine. Longitudinal diffu sion was increased by as much as 110% in the enzyme-treated samples of sycamore sapwood and by 90% in enzyme-treated southern pine. These la rge differences in diffusion of pit membranes, which are the main resi stance to flow of liquids. SEM pictures revealed the disruption of the pit membranes after enzymatic attack.