This thesis evaluates the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) as an approach to the increasingly difficult air sampling challenges within the field of occupational and environmental hygiene. The application of FTIR is exemplified by the assessment of emissions from and exposures in the sawmill and pellet industries. Open path FTIR was applied in the sawsheds and the terpene levels were monitored for several days. Traditional adsorbent sampling was used to evaluate the FTIR measurements. The volatile emissions from wood pellets were investigated in warehouses and in domestic storage rooms. The installation of open path FTIR in the harsh sawmill environment proved useful, however, attention must be paid to vibrations, beam blockage and limited sensitivity. Adsorbent sampling showed good agreement with open path FTIR. The uncontrolled airflows in sawsheds caused significant underestimation of emission rates. By the use of FTIR and a tracer gas a more accurate estimate was obtained. The total emission from processing of Scots pine was estimated to 660 g/m3 of roundwood under bark, and can amount to 700 tons annually from a large sawmill. Hexanal (111±32 mg/m3) and CO (56±4mg/m3) were recorded in pellet warehouses. Storage of wood pellets constitutes a potential occupational and domestic health hazard. Experiments from kiln drying of lumber show that the emissions of hexanal and carbon monoxide are not limited to wood pellets but are caused by general degradation processes of wood, facilitated by drying at elevated temperature. This is the first published report where low-temperature emission of carbon monoxide from wood materials is described. The FTIR method is a significant advancement in measurement technology. The retrieved data offers unparalleled information. It offers robust, convenient and efficient monitoring of gases over extended periods. FTIR spectroscopy should be considered a standard technique within the field of occupational and environmental hygiene.

The North American forest industry has long been an important part of North America’s economy. The industry has traditionally been the only industrial demand on timberland creating a long established balance between the supply (timberland) and the demand (manufacturing). Recently the forest industry has been troubled due to the collapse of the solid wood products largest market, housing, and a global recession. These troubled times have lead many operation in the industry to curtail operations. Since the industry curtailed, high oil prices and increasing environmental concern have advocated the investment in renewable energy sources. As a renewable energy source, biomass holds great potential for satisfying a portion of our continental energy demands. This increased demand for timberland products could be very profitable to the timberland owners but also holds many concerns to the extent of additional supply that can be harvested from our timberlands. Further complicating the balance of supply and demand are the large global and domestic effects that are reducing the total amount of timberland and increasing the demand for the remaining timberlands. The supply and demand changes have the potential to make the forest industry evermore important part of the North American economy but care must be taken to not over extend our resources.

[ES] El municipio de Serra se asienta en la vertiente meridional de la Sierra Calderona. El término municipal ocupa una superficie de 5.730 hectáreas de las cuales, el 95 % de su territorio se encuentra dentro del ámbito del Parque Natural de la Sierra Calderona y el 85% del territorio corresponde a Suelo Forestal. La estructura económica del municipio ha tenido, desde 1960, al sector de la construcción como eje principal de la economía, quedando el subsector forestal, como actividad residual. Esto ha provocado un flujo de mano de obra desde el sector primario hacia otros más productivos, teniendo como consecuencia un crecimiento desordenado de la masa forestal, provocando un deterioro del paisaje. Esto ha aumentado considerablemente el riesgo de incendios y plagas y amenaza en definitiva el patrimonio forestal del Parque Natural de la Sierra Calderona. Siguiendo las directrices marcadas por las prioridades de la UE en desarrollo rural se ha puesto en marcha un proyecto de investigación dirigido hacia la creación de empleo local mediante el fomento de actividades sostenibles cuyos resultados se reinviertan en la sociedad local generando una economía circular que constituya la base del desarrollo socio económico local. El proyecto consiste en el aprovechamiento energético sostenible de la biomasa forestal, agrícola y de jardinería y su reconversión a un combustible sólido (pélet) empleado en la calefacción de edificios públicos y por otra parte, comercializando el excedente de pélet, con esto se pretende un ahorro económico energético y de gestión del residuo y un beneficio que podrá ser empleado directamente en la creación de empleo local. El proyecto contribuye además a la protección y mejora de los montes de Serra. La presente Tesis trata de estudiar si un adecuado modelo de gestión de la biomasa en zonas de la interfaz urbano forestal de municipios, como Serra, incluidos en el Parque Natural de la Sierra Calderona puede tener efectos directos positivos en la prevención de incendios forestales y la lucha contra el cambio climático, la Tesis estudia además si estos modelos de gestión pueden ser económica y medioambientalmente sostenibles y su capacidad para contribuir a mejorar el desarrollo socioeconómico de estas poblaciones, fijando su población y ofreciendo un verdadero desarrollo rural basado en el aprovechamiento racional de sus recursos naturales. / [CA] El municipi de Serra s'assenta en el vessant meridional de la Serra Calderona. El terme municipal ocupa una superfície de 5.730 hectàrees de les quals, el 95 % del seu territori es troba dins de l'àmbit del Parc Natural de la Serra Calderona i el 85% del territori correspon a Sòl Forestal. L'estructura econòmica del municipi ha tingut, des de 1960, al sector de la construcció com a eix principal de l'economia, quedant el subsector forestal, com a activitat residual. Açò ha provocat un flux de mà d'obra des del sector primari cap a uns altres més productius, tenint com a conseqüència un creixement desordenat de la massa forestal, provocant una deterioració del paisatge. Açò ha augmentat considerablement el risc d'incendis i plagues i amenaça en definitiva el patrimoni forestal del Parc Natural de la Serra Calderona. Seguint les directrius marcades per les prioritats de la UE en desenvolupament rural s'ha engegat un projecte de recerca dirigit cap a la creació d'ocupació local mitjançant el foment d'activitats sostenibles els resultats de les quals es reinverteixen a la societat local generant una economia circular que constituïsca la base del desenvolupe soci econòmic local. El projecte consisteix en l'aprofitament energètic sostenible de la biomassa forestal, agrícola i de jardineria i la seua reconversió a un combustible sòlid (pélet) emprat en la calefacció d'edificis públics i d'altra banda, comercialitzant l'excedent de pélet, amb açò es pretén un estalvi econòmic energètic i de gestió del residu i un benefici que podrà ser emprat directament en la creació d'ocupació local. El projecte contribueix a més a la protecció i millora de les muntanyes de Serra. La present Tesi tracta d'estudiar si un adequat model de gestió de la biomassa en zones de la interfície urbà forestal de municipis, com Serra, inclosos en el Parc Natural de la Serra Calderona pot tenir efectes directes positius en la prevenció d'incendis forestals i la lluita contra el canvi climàtic, la Tesi estudia a més si aquests models de gestió poden ser econòmica i mediambientalment sostenibles i la seua capacitat per a contribuir a millorar el desenvolupament socioeconòmic d'aquestes poblacions, fixant la seua població i oferint un vertader desenvolupament rural basat en l'aprofitament racional dels seus recursos naturals. / [EN] The municipality of Serra sits on the southern slope of the Sierra Calderona mountains. The municipality occupies an area of 5,730 hectares of which, 95% of its territory is within the Sierra Calderona Natural Park and 85% of the territory corresponds to forest land. The economic structure of the municipality has had, since 1960, the construction sector as the main axis of the economy, leaving the forestry sub-sector as a residual activity. This has caused a labor flow from the primary sector to more productive ones, resulting in a disorderly growth of the forest mass, causing a deterioration of the landscape. This has considerably increased the risk of fire and pests and ultimately threatens the forest heritage of the Sierra Calderona Natural Park. Following the guidelines set by the EU priorities for rural development, a research project aimed at the creation of local jobs has been launched through the promotion of sustainable activities whose results are reinvested in the Local society generating a circular economy that constitutes the basis of the local socio-economic development. The project consists of the sustainable energetic use of forest, agricultural and garden biomass and its conversion to a solid fuel (wood pélet) used in the heating of public buildings and on the other hand, marketing the surplus of this wood pélet, this aims to a saving of energy bills and waste management costs and brings a benefit that can be used directly in the creation of local employment. The project also contributes to the protection and improvement of the Serra Mountains. This thesis aims to study whether an adequate model of management of biomass in the municipal urban forest interface, such as Serra, included in the Natural Park of the Sierra Calderona can have direct positive effects on the prevention of forest fires and the fight against climate change, the thesis also studies whether these management models can be economically and environmentally sustainable and their ability to contribute to improving the socioeconomic development of these populations, setting their Population and offering a true rural development based on the rational use of their natural resources. / Mayans Díaz, JJ. (2021). Gestión integral de la biomasa en la interfaz urbano-forestal, en ámbito supramunicipal y sus efectos en la lucha contra el cambio climático, Red Natura 2000 y prevención de incendios forestales [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/166094