Potential use of coconut shell pyrolytic oil distillate (CSPOD) as wood protectant against decay fungi

Abstract

Considerable interest has been developed on environmentally friendly technologies for wood protection. The current investigation focused on the development of an ecofriendly wood preservative formulation from coconut shell pyrolytic oil distillate (CSPOD). Rubberwood specimens treated with CSPOD were exposed to brown rot and white rot fungi and the efficacy was assessed in terms of percentage weight loss and FTIR spectra analysis. Treated samples showed significant reduction in weight loss when compared to control samples indicating the efficacy of the distillate. FTIR spectra further confirmed the ability of the distillate to protect wood against decay fungi. Phenolic compounds were the main components in the distillate as evidenced by GC–MS analysis. The presence of phenolic compounds in the distillate has given the significant decay resistance to the treated wood against both white rot and brown rot fungi. Hence, coconut shell pyrolytic oil distillate has the potential to be developed into a wood preservative formulation.