On the Potential of Pine Sap Processing in the Places of Its Extraction

Abstract

The industrial production of pine sap almost completely passed away in the Russian Federation. In order to regain lost ground it is necessary to resolve the following issues: creation of production capacities for pine sap processing in the places of its extraction; involvement of forest areas, rented for other types of forest exploitation, to pine sap production; creation of logistic schemes for sales of pine sap and products of its processing. The research is focused on development of a technology for pine sap processing, which could be used on production basis of an economic entity. As a result of analysis, the key features of the technological cycle of pine sap processing are revealed, that was accounted in the developing technology. The experiments were done on test equipment. Technological process consisted of pine sap decontamination and processing. The obtained rosin and turpentine met the existing standards for their quality. Two heating surfaces and a refrigeration unit were used in the technological workflow. One of the surfaces fulfilled the function of a smelter. The second surface (rosin boiling) and refrigeration unit were used in order to obtain rosin and turpentine. The important aspects of the developed technology are temperature modes and applied methods for purification from organic and mineral impurities. It has been established that with the use of an industrial plant having a rosin boiling part area of
2 m², it is possible to recycle 35 t of pine sap for 6 months, i.e. for the tapping season. Manufacturing of such industrial equipment is not very difficult. Its dimensional specifications are quite acceptable for the capabilities of small enterprises.