Technical Note: Effect of Soil on the pH of Treated Wood in Ground Contact

Authors

  • Tor P. Schultz
  • Darrel D. Nicholas

Abstract

The pH of treated wood in ground contact will influence the type and activity of decay and nondecay microorganisms present as well as the solubility and leaching of metallic biocides. To determine the soil effect on the pH of treated wood in ground contact, southern pine sapwood samples commercially treated with five copper-based preservatives along with untreated pine were placed in pots filled with five different soils. The pH of the wood samples after a 12-wk exposure to basic soils increased, as anticipated. However, the pH of wood in acidic soils was more complex than expected with the treated wood pH always greater than soil pH. Two possible chemical mechanisms to explain the nonintuitive results for treated wood in acidic soils are given.

References

AWPA (2009) 2009 AWPA book of standards. American Wood Protection Association, Birmingham, AL.nLebow P, Ziobro R, Sites L, Schultz T, Pettry D, Nicholas D, Lebow S, Kamdem P, Fox R, Crawford D. (2006) Statistical analysis of influence of soil source on leaching of arsenic and copper from CCA-C treated wood. Wood Fiber Sci 38(3):439-449.nLittle N, Nicholas D, Rowlen A, Schultz T, Shi J, Sites L. (2010) Update on BHT, resin acids, and organic wood preservative systems, and other items of interest in wood preservation at Mississippi State University. 106th AWPA Proc., Savannah, GA, May 2010. In press.nMcIntyre CR, Freeman MH, Shupe TF, Wu Q, Kamdem DP. (2009) The form of copper: Does it really matter? Inter Res Group on Wood Protection Paper IRG/WP 09-30513. Stockholm, Sweden.nMcIntyre FR, Freeman MH. (2009) Micronized copper. 105th AWPA Proc., San Antonio, TX, April 2009. Pages 114-127.nSchultz TP, Nicholas DD, Dalton TJ, Keefe D. (2004) Biocide retention variation of southern yellow pine products treated with waterborne preservatives in commercial, pilot plant, or laboratory cylinders. Forest Prod J 54(3):85-90.nStamm AJ. (1964) Wood and cellulose science. The Ronald Press Company, New York, NY. 177 pp.nVidrine C, Schauwecker C, Jin L, Preston A. (2010) The effect of soil on the pH of untreated southern pine in ground contact. Internat. Research Group on Wood Protection Paper IRG/WP 10-10742, Stockholm, Sweden.nZhang J, Ziobro R. (2009) Micronized copper preservative systems: Observations on the release of cupric ion (Cu2+) from treated wood and performance against wood decay fungi. Inter Res Group on Wood Protection Paper IRG/WP 09-305193, Stockholm, Sweden.n

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Published

2010-07-22

Issue

Number 3 / July 2010

Section

Research Contributions

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