A cellulose solvent system based on lithium chloride (LiCl) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) was used to assess the merits of partial dissolutions of coarsely ground wood samples. Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ)-treated pine wood was of particular interest for treatment given the potential to generate a copper-rich stream apart from solid and/or liquid lignocellulosic feedstocks. Treatment wi...

A rationally based procedure has long been needed for assigning design adjustments to Southern Pine lumber treated with waterborne preservative. This paper attempts to develop such a procedure by evaluating a series of models to predict the short-term effects of waterborne preservative treatments on the strength of U.S. Southern Pine lumber. Input data consisted of non-parametric treated to unt...

A large volume of CCA-treated wood removed from residential decks is disposed of in landfills every year, and better environmentally conscious alternatives are needed. Recycling CCA-treated wood from the decks could be a feasible alternative, but there is a lack of knowledge regarding the physical properties of the material. This research analyzed the chemical and mechanical properties of spent...

As defined in BS EN 350-1 [1], natural durability is ‘the inherent resistance of wood to attack by wood destroying organisms’. Eaton and Hale [2] defined natural durability or decay resistance as the ability of the Heartwood of any wood species to resist decay. Normally, natural durability is measured by exposing the wood to biological agents such as termites, beetles, fungi and marine borers (...

Southern pine specimens vacuum-treated with nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) dispersions were evaluated for leach resistance and UV protection. Virtually, no leaching occurred in any of the nano-ZnO-treated specimens in a laboratory leach test, even at the highest retention of 13 kg/m(3). However, specimens treated with high concentrations of nano-ZnO showed 58-65% chemical depletion after 12 months ...

CCA has been banned for residential use as a wood preservative in North America by the end of 2003. The alternatives will be copper-based chemicals, such as Ammonium Copper Quat (ACQ) or Copper Azole (CA). Leaching of copper from treated wood to environment will become one of the most important issues for the wood preserving industry. So far, no wood treatment with the new copper alternatives o...