Projects / Programmes
Production of knotwood and bark extracts with high content of polyphenols from underutilized silver fir biomass
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.01.02 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Wood technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
Silver fir, bark, knotwood, growing sites, season time, extracts, sampling, variability, polyphenols, nutraceutical properties, circular bioeconomy, valorization of biomass
Researchers (6)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
53624 |
Eli Keržič |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Junior researcher |
2020 - 2023 |
25 |
| 2. |
50007 |
Urša Osolnik |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Researcher |
2021 - 2023 |
11 |
| 3. |
11223 |
PhD Primož Oven |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Researcher |
2020 - 2023 |
561 |
| 4. |
34927 |
Vladimira Petrovič Šenk |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Researcher |
2020 |
12 |
| 5. |
12041 |
PhD Ida Poljanšek |
Chemical engineering |
Researcher |
2020 - 2023 |
346 |
| 6. |
30758 |
PhD Viljem Vek |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Head |
2020 - 2023 |
145 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
In the kingdom of plants, conifer trees have one of the highest concentrations of polyphenols in those parts of the tree that represent the residue or waste in the forest-wood chain. Bark and knots of conifers contain large quantities of flavonoids, lignans, stilbenes and tannins, which exhibit biological, pharmacological and clinical effects, such as cardiovascular disease prevention, cancer prevention, and anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antimicrobial activity. The content of polyphenolic extracts in a tree depends on all factors that influence the growth of a tree, as well as on the manner of handling, storage and extraction of biomass and on the storage of the extracts. The production of well-defined polyphenolic extracts requires understanding the role of all influencing factors, which requires in-depth research. Based on this knowledge, protocols can be developed for all stages in the extraction process. The aim of the project proposal is the production of two polyphenolic extracts from the tissues of silver fir with a well-defined polyphenolic composition and optimization of the entire production process. This includes technological and methodological research of the effective separation of bark and knots from logs of silver firs, the impact of the season and different growth sites on the content and composition of the polyphenolic fraction in biomass, the study of the impact of biomass handling and storage on the quality and quantity of extracts, and the determination of the green extraction process, which will provide optimum yields and constant composition of the target polyphenols. We will study the antioxidant properties and the stability of the extracts obtained. Based on the findings, protocols will be developed for the whole chain of silver fir polyphenolic extracts production, which will foster co-financer of the project to produce sufficient quantities and permanent quality of polyphenolic extracts to develop new nutritional supplements and provide a basis for the transition to a higher technological level. Cascading use of biomass demonstrated in this proposal will be applicable in other parts of the forest-wood value chain.
