Isolation and identification of wood and bark constituents and their toxicological effects.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 153
Description: Natural wood and bark constituents in trees play an essential role in their defense system against insects and bacteria. Bark and wood extractives are toxic to insects and bacteria, affecting their growth and reproduction. Adverse impacts on the growth and reproduction of wild fish downstream of pulp and paper mills have been observed. However, the causative compounds have not been identified. Some wood and bark extractives have been considered to be responsible for these effects. This thesis is focused on isolation and identification of wood and bark extractives and evaluation of their toxic effects on aquatic life. Bark extractives have been first time addressed in the chronic toxicity effects. The extractives were isolated from spruce pulp, bark, simulated and real TMP effluent samples. The lipophilic components were fractionated and then analyzed with gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. The bioassay test results indicate that a small amount of bark mixed into pulp can cause a significant increase in acute toxicity. The toxicological effects of wood and bark extractives on aquatic organisms were evaluated with  Ceriodaphnia dubia. The extractives were found to have significant contribution on acute and chronic toxicity of the pulp and paper mill effluents.
Notes: Adviser:  Mohini Sain.

Forestry theses.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 65-10, Section: B, page: 5331.