Eucalyptus wood treatment and leaching behavior of CCB (Chromated Copper Borate): a field test in Brazilian Midwest

Ana Larissa Santiago Hansted,Fernando Nunes Gouveia,Cassiano Pacheco Da Silva,Pedro Augusto Fonseca Lima,Gabriela Bertoni Belini,Fabio Minoru Yamaji,Carlos Roberto Sette Júnior,Elias Ricardo Durango Padilla

doi:10.33448/rsd-v10i11.19746

Abstract

The use of Chromated Copper Borate (CCB) for wood treatment is known with several studies on a laboratory scale. However, there is a lack of field studies to analyze the effect of the CCB over time. This study aimed to evaluate the wood properties of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake x Eucalyptus grandis W. Mill ex Maiden (called E. urograndis), treated with CCB as well evaluate the leaching of chromium, copper and bore (Cr/Cu/B) in field test. The field experiment, with wood treated and untreated (no CCB application), was installed in 2016 and remained until 2018. Wood physico-mechanical properties were evaluated for each condition (treated and untreated) and at three different time: at 0, 1 and 2 years of field exposure. The elements (Cr/Cu/B) losses (leaching) were determined by the difference in the quantification of each element retained in the wood (retention), from year 0 (amount of original elements) in relation to years 1 and 2 of field exposure. The preservative treatment of E. urograndis wood with CCB was efficient to maintain its physical and mechanical properties (mass loss, basic density, rupture and elasticity modulus) during the 2 years of field exposure. The E. urograndis wood without CCB treatment showed reductions in the physical-mechanical properties, indicating their low natural durability. High leaching (close to 100%) for boron was observed. In addition, the total of CCB retention has not changed (statistically) after 2 years.

Highlights

Wood becomes vulnerable to the action of xylophagous agents when in direct contact with the soil
To define the degree of resistance offered by wood to the action of degrading organisms, field test involving partial burial of wood pieces followed by their periodic health assessments are fundamental (Ncube et al, 2012; Brischke et al, 2013; Kleindienst et al, 2017; Torres-Andrade et al, 2019)
It is considered extremely important to conduct field deterioration tests with small wood pieces to allow collection of information regarding wood resistance in a short time (Ribeiro et al, 2014; Tarvainen et al, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

Wood becomes vulnerable to the action of xylophagous agents when in direct contact with the soil. The wood is attacked by fungi and insects, which can deteriorate it and reduces service life, with significant economic losses (Bi et al., 2019). To define the degree of resistance offered by wood to the action of degrading organisms, field test involving partial burial of wood pieces followed by their periodic health assessments are fundamental (Ncube et al, 2012; Brischke et al, 2013; Kleindienst et al, 2017; Torres-Andrade et al, 2019). To extend the service life of wood, preservatives frequently are employed to prevent wood deterioration from fungi and insects damage (García-Valcárcel and Tadeo, 2006; Panigrahi and Tripathy, 2019; Noll et al, 2019; Akcay et al, 2020).

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