The Effect of Thermal Modification on Anatomical Properties of Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch and Dalziel from Ghana

Understanding the biological changes from heat treatment is essential for effective wood application and quality control. Reliable evaluation ensures premium treated wood for the market. However, research on environmentally friendly thermal modification methods is limited. This gap must be addressed to evaluate the impact on lesser-known species like Daniellia oliveri. Five matured Daniellia oliveri trees were purposively selected and harvested from Du-West community and converted into standard sizes for the determination of the various properties. Fiber morphology, sectional characteristics as well as vessel measurements were evaluated in accordance with the International Association of Wood Anatomist (IAWA) Committee recommendations. The study revealed that, with the increase of the modification temperature, crystallization of wax occurred in the lumen of the modified specimens. The study further brought to light that with the increase in temperature fiber length decreased. Double fiber wall thickness and vessel diameter showed similar trends as their values decreased with the increase of the modification temperature. On the other hand, fiber lumen diameter and fiber diameter increased as temperature increased. This study highlights the significant impact of thermal modification on the anatomical properties of Daniellia oliveri wood. These insights underscore the importance of understanding the thermal modification response of wood species to enhance their application and ensure quality control.