Abstract
There is a need for new solutions in wood protection against marine wood borers and termites in Europe. A new solution could be the esterification of wood with sorbitol and citric acid (SCA) since these are inexpensive and readily available feedstock chemicals and have shown protective properties against fungal wood degradation in earlier studies and prevented macrobiological degradation, as shown in this study. Protection of wood products in the marine environment lacks available wood preservatives that are approved for marine applications. Termite infestation is opposed mainly by biocide treatments of wood. Several wood modification systems show high resistance against both marine borers and subterranean termites. However, the existing commercialized wood modification products are costly. Both macrobiological forms of degradation represent a great threat for most European wood species, which are rapidly and severely degraded if not properly treated. This study investigated esterified wood in standard field trials against marine wood borers, and against subterranean termites in laboratory trials in a no-choice and choice test. The treatment showed good resistance against wood borers in the marine environment after one season and against subterranean termites in the laboratory after eight weeks. The low termite survival rate (SR) in the no-choice test during the first week of testing indicates a mode of action that is incomparable to other wood modification treatments.
Highlights
Biodeterioration of most untreated European wood species in the marine environment and in termite-infested areas can be very rapid and severe
Even though their attack pattern affects the macroanatomical structure of wood, both organisms rely on diverse mechanisms involving multiple complementary enzymes to degrade lignocellulose [1,2]
The highest weight percentage gains (WPGs) in sorbitol and citric acid (SCA)-treated wood resulted in nearly no mass loss and no termite attack
Summary
Biodeterioration of most untreated European wood species in the marine environment and in termite-infested areas can be very rapid and severe. Attack by these organisms is limited by the geographical distribution of the respective species. Shipworms ingest wood particles produced by the grinding action of their shells, while termites manipulate lignocellulosic material with their mouth parts. Even though their attack pattern affects the macroanatomical structure of wood, both organisms rely on diverse mechanisms involving multiple complementary enzymes to degrade lignocellulose [1,2]. Current pest management programs for subterranean termites may include soil or wall barrier treatments (e.g., fipronil), wood treatments and population control using baits (e.g., hexaflumuron or diflubenzuron) together with the use of physical or physical–chemical barriers (steel mesh or treated plastic sheets) and adequate design
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