Leaching and decay resistance of alder and pine wood treated with copper based wood preservatives

The objective of this study was to determine the leaching and decay resistance of Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) wood samples treated with copper based preservatives. Samples were treated with CCA, ACQ, Tanalith E and Wolmanit with different concentrations. Scots pine samples were exposed the mini-block test against brown rot fungi (Poria placenta (Fries) Cook sensu J. Eriksson (FPRL 280)) and Coniophora puteana Karsten (BAM Ebw. 15) while alder wood samples were tested against brown rot fungi (Coniophora puteana) Karsten (BAM Ebw. 15) and white rot fungi (Coriolus versicolor )(CTB 863A). Regarding to leaching test, treated samples were impregnated with 300 ml of distilled water and after 6, 24, 48 and thereafter at 48-hour intervals, the leachate was removed and replaced with fresh distilled water according to AWPA E11. Samples of each leachate were collected and retained for copper analysis. Amount of copper released from treated wood during the leaching test was chemically analyzed with Atomic Absorption spectroscopy. Perchloric acid procedure for the digestion of wood was used according to AWPA A7-97. The amount of copper component (Qd), the cumulative quantities leached (Qc) and the average daily fluxes (FLUX) were calculated. Results shows that CCA treated samples release less copper compared to other copper based preservatives used in this study. Highest mass losses were obtained from the leached samples treated with 1% of ACQ-2200 against decay fungi.