BioMODEM group, from the Higher Polytechnic School of Engineering of Lugo (University of Santiago de Compostela), is carrying out a study on alternative uses of eucalyptus wood from the northwest of the peninsula. Specifically, they are evaluating whether this wood can be used by the cooperage industry.

In this work they have the collaboration of the company Ence-Energía y Celulosa, which has given them eucalyptus wood. Hand in hand with the forest harvesting firm Ría de Abres, which prepared the wood for the tests, Ence delivered the same wood to the researchers responsible for the team, who will carry out the studies.

In this first stage, analyzes of the physical-mechanical properties (porosity, ring size, density, flexural strength...) and also of the chemical, organoleptic or other properties that may be of interest for this type of timber industry.

The research is led by Héctor Rivada, within the Department of Agroforestry Engineering, with professors Pablo Vila and Adriana Conde as tutors. "In the last stage, based on the results we obtain, we will determine the suitability of eucalyptus wood and its adequacy for different types of beverages (such as wine), and we will carry out empirical tests," the researchers indicate. This type of analysis has been carried out previously with other species, such as oak, chestnut and acacia.