Colour alteration and chemistry changes in oak wood (Quercus pedunculata Ehrh) during plain vacuum drying

The formation of chromophore groups from a phenolic compound oxidized with air and the formation of dark materials from hydrolysable extractives are considered as causes of discoloration. In this work, the colour changes, antioxidant capacity, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra of dust-wood are investigated in European oak wood under different plain vacuum drying conditions. The conductive heat source is maintained at four temperatures (46, 61, 70 and 80°C), and vacuum in the chamber is controlled at three different intervals (60–100, 150–200, and 250–300 mbar). Drying kinetics and temperature profiles are presented. The results suggest that degradation of extractives allows yellowing in wood and temperature improves lightness under these special drying conditions (plain vacuum). Furthermore, the presence of carbonyl groups in surfaces is related to the loss in antioxidant potency.