earticle

영어

Chemical modification of wood is an effective method to enhance the biological durability of wood with no toxic effect on the environment. In this study, wood of Triplochiton scleroxylon was modified using acetylation techniques. A total of one hundred wood blocks, (each 20×20×60 mm) obtained from a 22-year old T. scleroxylon tree were conditioned and acetylated at 120oC in a bioreactor containing acetic anhydride for 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 minutes. The percentage weight gain of acetylated wood was determined. The untreated (control) and treated blocks were exposed to Pleurotus ostreatus (white rot fungus) and Fibroporia vaillanti (brown rot fungus) after which moisture content (MC) and weight loss (WL) was monitored for 16 weeks. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05 level of significance. The percentage weight gain of acetylated wood samples increased with time from 10.4% (60 minutes) to 22.7% (300 minutes). MC of untreated blocks inoculated with Pleurotus ostreatus was significantly higher than those of Fibroporia vaillantii after 16 weeks exposure. There was no significant difference in the MC of the of the acetylated samples for the two fungi after 300 minutes reaction time. The WL of untreated blocks inoculated with Fibroporia vaillantii was higher than those of Pleurotus ostreatus, however, the two fungi showed no significant difference in the WL for the acetylated samples after 16 weeks exposure. Acetylation prevents moisture absorption and inhibition of fungi growth in acetylated wood compared to untreated wood, thereby enhancing the durability of Triplochiton scleroxylon.