Characterization of the ashes of Nigerian red and white mangrove woods

Summary An investigation of the analytical characterization of ashes of Nigerian red and white mangrove woods was carried out. The ashes obtained from the woods were subjected to intense heating in water to extract the chemical constituents. Some quantitiy of rock salt was also dissolved in water and analysed. The solution obtained from the ashes were differently analysed for K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^–, SO₄, PO₄, NO₃ and total solid. The pH of each sample solution was measured. Various concentrations of these cations and anions were obtained and they were found in each case to be more than those obtained from rock salt. Solutions obtained from the ashes of red and white mangrove woods have wide applications particularly in Nigeria as tasty food additive and in softening and accelerating the cooking time of yam, plantain and beans in particular.     

广州市酸雨对不同森林冠层淋溶规律的研究

１９９８年４月至１９９９年３月对广州市白云山马尾松林和常绿阔叶林、广州市龙眼洞马尾松林两试验点进行了酸雨的监测,并测定和分析了林内穿透雨物理量及化学量,旨在探讨酸雨对不同森林冠层养分淋溶规律的影响。结果表明：（１）广州市酸雨占次数的７９．７％或占降雨量的９５．１％。（２）酸雨通过林冠层后,ｐＨ值明显增加。（３）在马尾松林和常绿阔叶林中,某些单次降雨出现ＳＯ４＾２－、ＮＯ３＾－、ＮＨ４＾＋Ａｌ＾３＋、Ｎａ＾＋的负淋溶现象,说明森林对这些离子（特别是ＮＯ３＾－、Ａａ＾３＋）具有吸收作用;阔叶林全年的ＮＯ３＾－和Ａｌ＾３＋净淋溶为负值,说明阔叶林比马尾松林对这两种离子具有更强的吸收能力。（４）雨水酸度增加（即ｐＨ值减小）,明显提高阳离子Ｃａ＾２＋、Ｍｇ＾２＋、Ｋ＾＋和Ｎａ＾＋冠层淋溶面分率。（５）ＮＨ４＾＋、ＳＯ４＾     

Chemical characterization of the ashes of some African hardwoods

Summary Eight African hardwoods of commercial interest (Mimusops djave; Mitragyna ciliata; Celtis mildbraedii; Antiaris africana; Terminalia superba; Daniella ogea; Entandrophragma cylindricum; and Afrormosia elata) were ashed. The percentage ash content of the woods was determined and the ash samples were analysed for soluble base (as K₂CO₃), Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. A link between the densities of the woods and the Ca²⁺ content of their ash was established.     

重庆酸雨区缙云山典型林分冠层酸雨淋洗特征

选取重庆缙云山的针阔混交林、常绿阔叶林、毛竹林、灌木林4种典型林分,观测酸性降水过程中林外雨、穿透雨及干流等林内水分转换分量中的主要离子含量变化,分析林分冠层对雨水化学组成的影响,结果表明:(1)降雨中的离子当量浓度大小依次是SO42-＞Ca2+＞ NH4+＞Mg2+＞K+＞Na+＞NO3-;(2)降雨经过林冠层后pH值降低,干流的酸化程度增加最大;(3)降雨经林冠层后离子浓度明显增加(除灌木林),穿透雨中通量增加最大的阴离子和阳离子分别为SO42-(2.19×103～6.47×103 eq·hm-2)和Ca2+(1.41×103～3.39×103 eq-hm-2),离子来源主要为大气沉降和植物分泌物或淋出;(4)同一离子在不同林分的干流和穿透雨中的通量变化不同,反映出不同林分冠层的离子交换性差异.在针阔混交林中,林下降雨净淋溶量大小顺序为SO42-＞Ca2+＞ NO3-＞K+＞NH4+＞Mg2+＞ Na+;常绿阔叶林为SO42-＞ Ca2+＞ K+＞NO3-＞ NH4+＞ Mg2+ ＞Na+;毛竹林为Ca2+＞ SO42-＞ K+＞NO3-＞ NH4+＞Na+＞Mg2+;灌木林为Ca2+＞ NO3-＞ K+＞ Na+＞Mg2+＞ NH4+＞ SO42-.     

Electrical migration of exogenous mineral ions through green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine)

Summary The electrical migration was studied of several cations passing longitudinally through cylindrical samples of green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. under the influence of an applied electric field. This led to values for the hindered ionic conductances within the wood of the cations Li⁺, K⁺ and CU²⁺ which were compared with data obtained previously (Simons et al., 1998) for several endogenous cations. There was satisfactory agreement for the conductance of the potassium ion, the only one to be determined by both methods. Copper ions were found to possess a higher conductance within the wood than calcium or magnesium, a factor relevant to its use as a wood preservative. Visual observation of the location of the blue-green colouration produced in the wood by copper ions indicated that they migrated via longitudinal resin ducts and tracheids. Elution and transport experiments were also carried out with sapwood which had been flushed with water, Li₂SO₄ or CuSO₄ solution.Symbols E potential gradient - F Faraday's constant (96, 494 C/mol) - I current - L length of wood sample - M molarity (mol/dm³) - Q quantity of electricity - R electrical resistance - S Siemens (reciprocal ohm) - t time - u ionic mobility (velocity under unit potential gradient) - v ionic velocity - z charge number of ion - ionic conductance The authors thank SERC and Rentokil PLC for the award of a CASE Research Studentship to P.J.S. and the Leverhulme Trust for the award of an Emeritus Fellowship to M.S.     

Electrical transport of endogenous mineral ions in green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine)

Summary The relative migration of the major endogenous ions (K⁺, Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Cl^– in green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. was measured in a modified Hittorf transference cell. The transference numbers obtained gave the fractions of the current carried by these ions when an electric field was applied across the wood samples under the conditions used.Potassium and calcium ions were always found to be the main endogenous current carriers, followed by magnesium, sodium and chloride ions. No significant differences in transference number were found between wood stored under refrigeration or in a deep freeze, nor was there any effect on prior -irradiation. Fungal contamination in a few non-irradiated specimens led to lower transference numbers. Changes in moisture content from 86 to 141% produced no significant change but the results did depend on the tree from which the samples had been taken. A decrease in the length of the wood sample from 100 to 50 mm had little effect on the transference numbers of calcium ions but caused a decrease in those of potassium when larger quantities of electricity were passed. Transversely- and longitudinally-oriented wood samples, however, gave very similar results. Visual observation of the anode compartment indicated that the ions followed the path of least resistance between cathode and anode and that the current passed along the grain of the wood.Symbols c_i molar concentration of ion i - F Faraday's constant (96 494 C/mol) - I current - t time - t_i transference number of ion i (also shown as t(i) in tables) - V volume of electrode compartment - Z_i charge number of ion i The authors thank SERC and Rentokil PLC for the award of a CASE Research Studentship to P.J.S. and the Leverhulme Trust for the award of an Emeritus Fellowship to M.S.     

Chemical characterization of the ashes of some African hardwoods

Summary Six African hardwoods (Nauclea diderrichii, Chlorophora excelsa; Lovoa trichilioides; Gosswailerodendron balsamiferum; Bombax buonopozense and Hevea brasiliensis) were ashed. The percentage ash content of the woods was determined, and the ash samples were analyzed for soluble base (as K₂CO₃); Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Fe³⁺.     

Transfer characteristics of nutrient elements through hydrological process of a Pinus tabulaeformis stand in the West Mountain of Beijing

Forest precipitation chemistry is a major issue in forest hydrology and forest ecology. Chemical contents in precipitation change significantly when different kinds of external chemical materials are added, removed, translocated and transformed to or in the forest ecosystem along with precipitation. The chemistry of precipitation was monitored and analyzed in a 31-year-old Pinus tabulaeformis forest in the West Mountain of Beijing. Movement patterns of nutrient elements in hydrological processes can be discovered by studying this monitored data. Also, the information is useful for diagnosing the function of ecosystems and evaluating the impact of the environment on the ecosystem. Samples of rainfall, throughfall and stemflow were collected on the site. In the lab, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were analyzed by flame atomic absorption and K⁺ and Na⁺ by flame emission. NH₄ ⁺-N was analyzed by indophenol blue colorimetry and NO₃ ⁻-N was analyzed by phenoldisulfonic acid colorimetry. The results showed that: 1) The concentration gradient of nutrient elements clearly changed except for Na⁺. The nutrients in stemflow were significantly higher than those of throughfall and rainfall as the precipitation passed through the P. tabulaeformis forest. The monthly patterns showed distinct differentiation. There are indications that a large amount of nutrients was leached from the canopy, which is a critical function of intra-ecosystem nutrient cycling to improve the efficiency of nutrient use. 2) The concentrations of NO₃ ⁻-N and K⁺ changed more than those of the other nutrient elements. The concentration of NO₃ ⁻-N in throughfall and stemflow was 4.4 times and 9.9 times higher than those in rainfall, respectively. The concentration of K⁺ in throughfall and stemflow was 4.1 times and 8.1 times higher than those in rainfall, respectively. 3) The leaching of nutrient elements from the stand was an important aspect of nutrient return to the P. tabulaeformis forest, which returned a total amount of nutrient of 54.1 kg/hm², with the contribution of Ca²⁺ and K⁺ much greater than that of other elements. Also, K⁺ was the most active element in leaching intensity. 4) Nutrient input through precipitation was the main source in the West Mountain of Beijing and the amount of nutrient added was 66.4 kg/hm², of which Ca²⁺ and N contributed much more than the other nutrient elements. When precipitation passes through the P. tabulaeformis forest, 121 kg/hm² of nutrient is added to the forest floor. Ca²⁺ recorded the greatest nutrient increase, with 61.2 kg/hm², followed by N (NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ⁻-N), K⁺ and Mg²⁺, with 31.3 and 16.5, and 8.11 kg/hm², respectively. The least was Na⁺, 3.34 kg/hm². Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2006, 26(7): 2,101–2,107 [译自: 生态学报]     

Change in river water chemistry as affected by the confluence of forest drainage water in dairy farming area on Hokkaido Island, Northern Japan

We evaluated i) the difference in river water chemistry between a watershed mainly consisting of pasture and a watershed mainly consisting of forest, and ii) how the chemistry of river draining the pasture is influenced by that of the river draining the forest. We selected one river (designated as the T-river) draining the pasture (3,587 ha), and two rivers draining a forest (738 and 879 ha) in eastern Hokkaido, northern Japan. During higher river flow due to precipitation and thawing, the concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Fe, and Al increased, suggesting the relative importance of the shallow soil layer as their source. On the other hand, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Si decreased, suggesting the relative importance of the source in a deep soil layer. The concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , Cl⁻, SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Fe were higher in the T-river than in the forest drainage waters, suggesting the contribution of the excretion components from the milk cows. The Si concentration exhibited the opposite pattern. The concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , Cl⁻, SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ (p<0.001), and Fe (p<0.05) in the T-river decreased after the confluence of the forest drainage waters, while Si concentration increased (p<0.001). The reason for the change in river chemistry was the confluence of the forest drainage waters. These findings suggested the environmental role of the forest in the dilution of the polluted river. Prof. S. Ohata, and Prof. H. Takeda, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, facilitated this study. Prof. T. Sakai, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, offered this study some convenience. Dr. M. Sakimoto, and Dr. M. Katsuyama, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, offered useful advise.     

Cyclisation of farnesyl pyrophosphate into sesquiterpenoids in ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale)

The atomic ratios (¹⁴C/³H) obtained in ar-curcumene, α-zingiberene, β-bisabolene obtained from the essential oil of rhizomes of Zingiber officinale which were fed with [2-¹⁴C, 2-³H₂], [2-¹⁴C, 4R-³H₁] and [2-¹⁴C, 5-³H₂]mevalonic acid and [1-³H₂]farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) revealed that (a) (2E,6E)-isomer of FPP is isomerised to (2Z,6E)-isomer without loss of epimeric hydrogen that means without a redox process; (b) (2Z,6E)-FPP is cyclised to bisabolyl cation which is the penultimate precursor of α-zingiberene, ar-curcumene and β-bisabolene; and (c) two 1,2-hydrogen shifts take place during the formation of α-zingiberene whereas one 1,2 shift has been observed during the formation of ar-curcumene.     

Canopy leaching of subtropical mixed forests under acid rain

Leaching of major ions from acid precipitation in a subtropical forest was examined based on an experiment in four sample sites in Shaoshan City, Hunan Province, China, from January 2001 to June 2002. Results clearly show that when rain passed through the canopy, pH increased and the evidence of ion uptake was presented for SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻, Mg²⁺ and NH₄ ⁺ ions, especially of NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ⁻. The percentages of dissolved SO₄ ²⁻, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ show a decreasing trend with increasing rainfall. Percentages of leaching Ca²⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻ ions show an increasing trend as a function of increased pH values. The forest canopy in Shaoshan City has a strong effect on the uptake of SO₄ ²⁻ and NO₃ ⁻ ions under acid rain conditions. The decreasing order of ions leaching in the forest canopy is as follows: K⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Cl⁻ > Mg²⁺ > SO₄ ²⁻ > NO₃ ⁻ > NH₄ ⁺ > Na⁺. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2007, 43(7): 1–4 [译自: 林业科学]     

An assessment of rainfall modification in mountainous ecosystems dominated by Fagus sylvatica L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. (Western Balkans,Bulgaria) by multivariate analyses

Bulk precipitation, throughfall, and stemflow samples were collected in Petrohan site (Western Balkan, Bulgaria), operating in the framework of the Long-Term Ecological Research network, during a 6-year period (1995–2000). This mountain area is characterized by the presence of beech and spruce forests (Fagus sylvatica L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and is utilized for drinking water supply. All samples were analyzed for pH and major inorganic anions (Cl^?, NO₃ ^?, and SO₄ ^2?) and cations (Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and NH₄ ⁺). Results show that bulk precipitation in this region is mainly acidic (pH = 5.1), and the dominant neutralization components in the rainwater are Ca²⁺ and NH₄ ⁺. As for Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^?, and SO₄ ^2?, they are not originated by marine source. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used for investigating the possible sources contributing to the chemical composition of the bulk precipitation and its possible modifications during the passing through beech and spruce stands. Results highlight that local and long-range transport-related anthropogenic sources and natural sources contribute to the anion and cation content of the bulk precipitation. The enrichment of the solution through the foliage made up of dry depositions is significant in both stands, but canopy leaching processes are much greater in the spruce forest, especially for Ca²⁺. As for the stemflow, it follows the same pattern as the throughfall, but N uptake and a strong K⁺ and Mg²⁺ leaching are observed mainly in the spruce stand.     

Multiple modelling of water chemistry flows assessed in a mountain spruce catchment

The study was carried out over a period of 1999–2003 in the Dupniański Stream catchment located in Silesian Beskid Mts. Region (Southern Poland). Analysis of the chemical composition of bulk precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, surface flow, soil water (horizontal + vertical and vertical penetration) and outflow water samples was performed. The complex data matrix with more than 3,000 observations of water reaction, major anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, SO₄ ²⁻) and cations (NH₄ ⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺) were treated by regression modelling. The modelling approach took into account seasonal variability according to winter and growing season, as well as chronosequence of spruce stands. The retention of considerable levels of contaminants by the canopy, and their removal or washout from needles by rainfall caused changes in the concentration of anions and cations reaching the soil surface compared to the concentrations in bulk precipitation. In the youngest stand, most elements except NH₄ ⁺, SO₄ ²⁻ and K⁺ were retained in the canopy, and even H⁺ ions were neutralized. In the older stands, most elements increased in net throughfall fluxes, and the acidity increased strongly. Soil water was slightly correlated with throughfall, while outflow water showed no correlations with the above ground water flows, and seemed to depend mostly of the bedrock.     

Relationship between streamflow and nutrient and sediment losses from an oak-beech forest watershed during an 18-year long monitoring study in Turkey

The objectives of this study were to quantify the amount of the stream discharge, nutrient fluxes, suspended sediment loss, and to define the relationship between streamflow and these parameters in a forest-covered watershed. The study was carried out in an experimental watershed, which has been monitored since 1979 in the Belgrad forest in Istanbul. Significant linear regressions were obtained between streamflow and discharge of selected water quality parameters. Mean monthly losses were 10.01 kg/ha for HCO₃ ⁻, 5.92 kg/ha for CI⁻, 0.07 kg/ha for total N, 1.29 kg/ha for Mg²⁺, 3.59 kg/ha for Ca²⁺, 2.59 kg/ha for Na⁺, 1.82 kg/ha for K⁺, 0.0113 kg/ha for P-PO₄ ³⁻, and 35.82 kg/ha for suspended sediments. Among the monitored water quality parameters, HCO₃ ⁻, CI⁻, and Ca²⁺ had greater losses than the rest of the chemical parameters studied in the watershed. Net gains (influx exceeded outflux) calculated for total N, Mg²⁺, K⁺, and P-PO₄ ³⁻ in the annual basis can be considered as an addition to the ecosystem’s organic nutrient pool. In contrast, net losses occurred for HCO₃ ⁻, CI⁻, Ca²⁺, and Na⁺.     

Mineralization of the methoxyl carbon of isolated lignin by brown-rot fungi under solid substrate conditions

Summary The objectives of this work were to begin developing an experimental system for studying the demethylation of lignin by brown-rot fungi and to examine the influence of selected culture parameters. As substrate for demethylation, we used partially 3-O-demethylated lignin that had been isolated earlier from brown-rotted spruce wood; we remethylated with¹⁴CH₃I, giving a lignin with both [3-¹⁴C]methoxyl and [4-¹⁴C]methoxyl groups. This lignin was added to pine wood flakes, which were incubated with selected brown-rot fungi, and the evolved¹⁴CO₂ was trapped and measured. Of eight fungi examined,Gloeophyllum trabeum andWolfiporia cocos gave the highest rates of mineralization of the¹⁴C-methoxyl carbons. With the former but not the latter fungus, methoxyl mineralization was over twice as fast in an atmosphere of O₂ than in air. Amending the cultures with ammonium tartrate suppressed mineralization to some extent. Further studies withG. trabeum showed that glutamate lowered the rate of mineralization and that glucose and glycerol sharply suppressed it. Addition of Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ slightly increased the rate of mineralization. Our results suggest that in unsupplemented cultures the rate-limiting step in methoxyl mineralization is the initial demethylation. Thus the two likely initial C₁ products, methanol and formaldehyde (as¹⁴C compounds), were mineralized much more rapidly than the methoxyl carbon of the lignin (as was formic acid), and no low molecular weight labeled intermediates from the [¹⁴C]-methoxyl lignin accumulated in the cultures. Our results also provide evidence that the spruce lignin was partially polymerized byG. trabeum. Mineralization of the methoxyl carbon of a synthetic [3-¹⁴C]-methoxyl lignin was slower than that of the spruce lignin, suggesting either that the synthetic lignin was more recalcitrant or that the [4-¹⁴C]methoxyl group in the [3,4-¹⁴C]-methoxyl spruce lignin was attacked more readily.We thank Karen L. Martinson and Michael D. Mozuch for excellent technical help, and Tor P. Schultz for valuable suggestions. This research was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wood Utilization Research Program, Project No. 350-0612, to Mississippi State University.The Forest Products Laboratory is maintained in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin. This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and it is therefore in the public domain and not subject to copyright in the United States.     

Deposition pattern of precipitation and throughfall in a subtropical evergreen forest in south-central China

The effects of dry deposition, canopy leaching, precipitation ion concentration, and precipitation H⁺ concentration on net throughfall flux (NTF, throughfall minus bulk precipitation) were evaluated on a seasonal basis by using a multiple regression analysis approach based on an observation period of 4 years in Shaoshan subtropical mixed evergreen forest, south-central China. Regression analysis results indicated that the estimated canopy exchange flux was the dominant factor regulating the NTF and the calculated dry deposition was a minor term. The seasonal dry deposition of base cations accounted for 15%–43% of the NTF. The NTF analysis showed that K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and weak acids in throughfall were derived from foliar leaching and the canopy uptakes of H⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and NO₃ ⁻ were from precipitation. The retention rate of proton (H⁺ and NH₄ ⁺) in the canopy was close to the canopy leaching rate of base cations when corrected for weak acids because weak acid-induced canopy leaching did not exchange with protons, which suggested that the canopy leaching processes neutralized acid precipitation in Shaoshan forest.     

Water quality of Kaptai reservoir in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

A study was conducted in Kaptai reservoir, one of the largest man-made freshwater lakes of South-east Asia, to determine present status of water quality and its suitability for fishing and other uses. Water samplings were from middle part of the reservoir at 0.2 and 0.8 fractional depths at five different locations from upstream to downstream viz. Burburichara, Maichchari, Subolong, Basanthakum, and Rangamati. Water analyses show that concentrations of NO3-N, K+ and total P, and suspended solid at all the sampling stations were beyond the recommended values for fish culture. Concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, Cl-, total dissolved solid (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were within the standards for aquaculture. Concentrations of NO3-N, SO42-, K+ and total P showed no definite trend with depths, locations as well as rainy and dry seasons. Water pH, conductivity, Na+ and HCO3- contents were lower in rainy season, and DO and COD higher at almost all the locations in both the depths, compared with dry season. Total solids and concentrations of TDS, DO, COD, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+ were higher in upstream and decreased gradually towards downstream in the reservoir. Concentrations of DO and Ca2+ and pH were higher and Mg2+ less at 0.2-fractional depth than those at 0.8-fractional depth at almost all the locations. The reservoir is in mesotrophic condition containing high concentration of NO3-N and total P, in alarming status with the presence of excessive suspended solids from urban pollution around the town. It is necessary to adopt measures for protecting water quality in the reservoir due to such deteriorations.     

Effects of clear-cutting on streamwater quality in forest catchments in central Sweden

Hydrochemical studies were conducted in three forested catchments in central Sweden during a 12-year period (1977–1989). During this period, 50% and 95% of the surface of two of the areas were clear - felled. The third area was left untouched as a control for reference. A qualitative analysis of clear-cut effects was conducted to investigate changes in streamwater quality by use of Principal Component and SIMCA analyses. During the 8 years of clear-cutting, with reference to the control period, the average runoff increased by 85% and 110% (220 mm and 274 mm year⁻¹), respectively, in the two areas felled to 50% and 95%. Significant changes in the status of the streamwater were detected for the two clear-felled catchments, whereas the changes detected in the control catchment were not significant, and within the limits of natural variation.In relation to the reference period, the changes in the clear-felled catchments were identified as dependent mainly on increased concentrations of K⁺, NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, org-N, and tot-N. Concentrations of H⁺ decreased, while changes in concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, SO₄²⁻, and Cl⁻ were less distinct. At the end of the 8 year investigation period, run-off and chemical composition of the streamwater successively returned to pre-cut conditions.     

Biological performance,water absorption,and swelling of wood treated with nano-particles combined with the application of Paraloid B72<Superscript>®</Superscript>

We evaluated fungal decay and mold resistance, leaching, and water absorption of nano-compounds and Paraloid B72^® (PB72) in treated wood specimens to develop new methods of consolidation by combining nano-particles and consolidants. Scots pine wood specimens were treated with dispersions of nano-CuO, nano-ZnO, nano-B₂O₃, nano-TiO₂, and nano-CeO₂. PB72 treatments of nano-particle-treated wood specimens were then carried out by either vacuum or immersion for 24 h. Previously, decayed wood specimens were also consolidated with the nano-compounds and PB72. PB72 treatments reduced element release from treated wood specimens. Nearly all nano-compounds + PB72 treatments increased the biological performance of treated wood specimens against decay fungi tested. PB72-only treated wood specimens had the highest weight losses in decay tests. No improvements were obtained in mold resistance tests when the nano-compounds and PB72 were combined. In nano-compound-only treatments, unleached specimens showed slightly lower water absorption values compared to untreated control specimens. Incorporation of PB72 into nano-compound-treated wood specimens resulted in considerably lower water absorption and volumetric swell. In previously decayed specimens treated with the nano-compounds and PB72 solution, water absorption after 2-h immersion declined compared to control specimens.