Solvent-free wood esterification with fatty acid chlorides

A method for wood esterification using fatty acid chlorides in the absence of organic solvents is proposed. A nitrogen stream was used to carry-off the hydrogen chloride formed during synthesis and to displace the equilibrium of the reaction. The experimental conditions being optimal (nitrogen flow rate, temperature and reaction time, quantity of fatty acid chloride), there was an increase in weight of 87% and a 60% ester content for the sample esterified with octanoyl chloride. The generalization of the reaction to other fatty acid chlorides was studied. Improvement in the thermoplastic properties of wood following esterification was demonstrated.