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New environmentally-benign concepts in wood protection: the combination of organic biocides and non-biocidal additives

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The principal wood preservative for residential use is currently a broad-spectrum biocide which contains As, Cr and Cu. However, the use of totally organic wood preservative systems in certain applications or localities may be required in the future. This will greatly increase the price of treated wood. The combination of organic biocides with non-biocidal additives to give enhanced efficacy is one possible means to lower the cost of future wood preservative systems. Possible non-biocidal additives which could be mixed with organic biocides include water repellents, antioxidants, and chelators for specific elements, including metals required by wood-decaying fungi such as iron or manganese. Selected laboratory and field exposure results obtained by combining organic biocides with one or more non-biocidal additives are presented in this chapter. Future wood preservative systems, either based on this chapter’s concept or other possible techniques, will likely be used for relatively specific applications rather than today’s one broad-spectrum preservative. This will require users of treated wood to be more educated in the future.

Keywords

Organic biocides, non-biocidal additives, wood preservatives

Citation

Green, Frederick; Schultz, Tor P. 2003. New environmentally-benign concepts in wood protection: the combination of organic biocides and non-biocidal additives. Wood deterioration and preservation : advances in our changing world. Washington, DC : American Chemical Society, c2003. ACS symposium series ; 845: Pages 378-389.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/8412