Reducing leaching of boron-based wood preservatives – A review of research

Published Date

October 2008, Vol.99(15):7312–7322, doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2007.12.077

Title 

Reducing leaching of boron-based wood preservatives – A review of research

• Author 

• Diana N. Obanda ^a,1,
• Todd F. Shupe ^a,,
• H. Michael Barnes ^b,2,

• aLouisiana Forest Products Development Center, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
• bDepartment of Forest Products, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762-9820, United States

Received 19 September 2007. Revised 7 December 2007. Accepted 7 December 2007. Available online 4 March 2008. 

Abstract

Inorganic borates offer good protection to timber in most non-ground contact applications. The effective use of low solubility borates has not yet been achieved in the treatment of solid lumber. Interest in reducing the leaching of borates stems from their favorable environmental characteristics and broad spectrum efficacy. The key to extending the use of borates to cover the entire spectrum of wood preservation is improving their permanence in wood while retaining efficacy by retaining limited mobility of the borate. We review research over the last two decades in laboratories around the world and classify all strategies employed into fifteen categories. For each strategy, resistance of the treated wood to wood destroying organisms, resistance to leaching, and potential applications are discussed.

Keywords

Boron

Borates

Wood preservatives

Leaching

Fixation

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