CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF <i>Cordia trichotoma</i> (Vell.) Arráb. ex Steud WOOD

Abstract

There are variations in the chemical, physical and anatomy composition of wood, also among species and within species, which vary significantly with the height of the trunk and towards the bone to the shell. The objective of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of wood of Cordia trichotoma. Three tree samples were analyzed, collected in the northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul state, of which a wooden disc has been withdrawn located near the base. The ash and extractives by TAPPI were quantified and the essential oil was extracted using the method for drag steam. There were also certain chemical elements present in the wood samples, in its natural form, milled, and by spectrometry fluorescence X-ray energy dispersive -EDXRF. The wood of Cordia trichotoma showed average levels of ash and extractives of 1,39% and 28,22%, respectively. In the chemical composition of the essential oil, it was possible to identify two main oil components the α-cadinol and α-muurolol. The most abundant mineral elements were potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur and silicon. The iron was the element with lowest concentration found in the wood by the analysis technique used.