The chemistry and kinetic behavior of Cu‐Cr‐As/B wood preservatives. I. Fixation of chromium on wood

Abstract

AbstractThe kinetic behavior of CrO3 in its reaction with wood has been elucidated. Various reactions take place between CrO3 and the lignin and cellulose in wood. CrO3 reacts with cellulose in a two‐step reaction: the first step is an adsorption of CrVI onto the cellulose to form CrVI/cellulose activated complexes. The second step is a CrVI → CrIII reduction taking place on the cellulose surface. The CrIII formed is only physically adsorbed to the cellulose or very weakly bound as small amounts of CrIII can be released into the reaction medium. The CrVI adsorbed by cellulose appears mainly to be reduced to CrIII. The reaction of CrVI with lignin has been shown to be the composition of the three successive reaction of Cr2O72−, HCrO4−, and CrO42− with the guaiacyl units of lignin. Insoluble and stable CrVI/lignin complexes in which chromium maintains its hexavalent oxidation state are formed. Rate constants and energies of activation for all the reactions have been determined. The fixation of CrO3‐derived compounds on wood has been explained as the combination of the various reactions investigated. The results indicate that 60% of Cr is fixed irreversibly to the lignin of wood as CrVI and 40% is weakly bound, probably just precipitated, on the cellulose surface as CrIII of which small amounts can be released in a water medium. The complex CrVI and CrIII species forming complexes with the guaiacyl units have been identified.