CHARACTERIZATION OF COPPER IN LEACHATES FROM ACQ- AND MCQ-TREATED WOOD AND ITS EFFECT ON BASIDIOSPORE GERMINATION

Authors

  • Rod Stirling FPInnovations Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • John N. R. Ruddick Department of Wood Science University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Wei Xue Department of Chemistry University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Paul I. Morris FPInnovations Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Pierre Kennepohl Department of Chemistry University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada

Abstract

The unpenetrated interior of wood with a shell of preservative treatment may be exposed when the wood is cut or when checks open up. Mobile copper from wood shell-treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has been shown to protect cut ends and checks against basidiospore germination. However, recent observations found that leachates from alkaline copper quat (ACQ)-treated wood failed to prevent basidiospore germination on untreated wood although copper levels were higher than toxic thresholds previously identified. It was hypothesized that the copper in leachate from ACQ-treated wood may be coordinated with monoethanolamine and/or lignin-based ligands and that this may result in poorer performance against basidiospores. In this study, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine the form of copper in leachates from ACQ, micronized copper quat (MCQ), and coppersulfate-treated wood. Leachates from ACQ-treated wood contained at least some degree of coordination with a nitrogen- and oxygen-containing ligand, probably monoethanolamine. This was not detected in leachates from MCQ and copper-sulfate-treated wood. These leachates were further evaluated for their ability to inhibit germination of Tyromyces palustris basidiospores. At low concentrations of copper, the CuSO4 and MCQ leachates were more effective than the ACQ leachate. At high concentrations CuSO4 and MCQ, leachates prevented germination in all samples, whereas ACQ leachates prevented germination in all but one sample.

Author Biographies

Rod Stirling, FPInnovations Vancouver, BC, Canada

Senior Scientist

John N. R. Ruddick, Department of Wood Science University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada

Professor

Wei Xue, Department of Chemistry University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada

PhD Student

Paul I. Morris, FPInnovations Vancouver, BC, Canada

Research Leader

Pierre Kennepohl, Department of Chemistry University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada

Professor

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Published

2015-08-17

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 3 (2015)

Section

Research Contributions

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