Abstract
The development of new bio-friendly alternatives for wood conservation is of great interest and necessary for environmental protection. In this paper, the preparations based on the propolis extract and silicon compounds were used as green wood preservatives. The wood was treated with 15% propolis extract (EEP) and two propolis-silane preparations, namely, EEP-VTMOS/TEOS (EEP with vinyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate) and EEP-MPTMOS/TEOS (EEP with 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate and tetraethyl orthosilicate). The aim of the research was to determine the properties of treated wood, which was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the resistance against brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana and the mechanical properties of treated wood were also determined. The analysis of phenolic compounds concentration in treated wood indicated that phenols were in greater extent leached from wood treated with the propolis extract than from wood impregnated with the propolis-silane preparations. The presence of silicon in treated wood both before and after leaching was confirmed by CP MAS NMR measurements. In turn, AAS and XRF analyses indicated that the degree of Si leaching from wood impregnated with EEP-VTMOS/TEOS was approximately two times lower than from EEP-MPTMOS/TEOS treated wood. The results of chemical analyses confirmed that the constituents of the propolis-silane preparations formed permanent bonds with wood. In turn, the results of the antifungal efficacy against C. puteana showed that the propolis extract and the propolis-silane preparations limited the fungus activity, even the wood was subjected to leaching procedure. The treated wood showed an increase in bending strength and a decrease in the modulus of elasticity compared to untreated wood. The obtained results indicate that the propolis-silane preparations can be promising green wood preservatives, harmless for the natural environment.
Highlights
Wood, as a natural renewable resource, is susceptible to decay and biodegradation by fungi and, to a lesser extent, by bacteria
The aim of the research was to determine the properties of treated wood, which was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
The results of chemical analyses confirmed that the constituents of the propolis-silane preparations formed permanent bonds with wood
Summary
As a natural renewable resource, is susceptible to decay and biodegradation by fungi and, to a lesser extent, by bacteria. Wood protection employs natural compounds with low or no toxicity to humans and the environment, including chitosan, natural oils or propolis [6,7,8,9]. Essential oils and their components (e.g., citral, thymol, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol) were applied in wood protection, increasing the wood durability against molds and decay fungi [10,11,12,13]. The bioactive components of wood extracts, such as phenolic compounds, play an important role in the natural durability of the wood. Latifolin and 4-methoxydalbergione isolated from Dalbergia latifolia heartwood showed activity against T. versicolor [18]
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