WOOD RESEARCH Volume 71, Number 2, 2026
NIRANJAN KANNANGARA, WASUNDARA INDUMINI, OKDCP MUTHUMALI, CHAMINDA MUTHUMALA, and FAIZ MARIKAR

The Treatability of Selected Local Timber Species with Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ) Preservative: Correlating Wood Anatomy, Physical Properties, and Preservative Performance

This study evaluated the ACQ treatability of 24 local timber species through vacuum pressure impregnation and correlated preservative retention and penetration with physical and anatomical wood properties. Retention ranged widely from 0.478 kg m⁻³ (Bridelia retusa) to 14.980 kg m⁻³ (Cullenia ceylonica and Cupressus macrocarpa). Based on retention and Chrome Azurol S (CAS) penetration assessment, species were classified into four treatability classes. One-way ANOVA confirmed highly significant differences in density (F₂₃,₄₈=199.79; p<0.001), moisture content (F₂₃,₄₈=48.04; p<0.001), and ACQ retention (F₂₃,₄₈=82.75; p<0.001) across species. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a very strong positive relationship between fibre wall thickness and wood density (r=0.955; p<0.05) and a strong negative relationship between fibre lumen diameter and density (r= −0.903; p=0.001), demonstrating that fibre morphology is the dominant determinant of wood density. Neither density (r= −0.411; p=0.163), moisture content (r = 0.005; p = 0.987), total ray area (r=0.097; p=0.789), total vessel area (r= −0.021; p=0.932), fibre wall thickness (r=0.082; p=0.725), nor fibre lumen diameter (r=0.302; p=0.183) produced statistically significant correlations with ACQ retention, indicating that preservative uptake is governed by the combined interactive influence of multiple anatomical and chemical wood properties rather than any single parameter. Cullenia ceylonica, Cupressus macrocarpa, and Ficus amplissima were identified as the most effectively treatable species, classified as very easy to treat (Class 4, retention >10 kg m⁻³) with full penetration exceeding 25 mm. These findings provide a species-specific treatability database for Sri Lankan timber and highlight the need for multi-variable modelling in future preservative research.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 67, Number 2, 2022
THITI WANISHDILOKRATN, SIRILUK SUKJAREON, ITSAREE HOWPINJAI, and LAMTHAI ASANOK

Enhancing leucaena leucocephala wood preservation by steeping it in boron compounds and acetic acid to protect against termites

This study compared steeping Leucaena leucocephala wood with boron compounds and acetic acid to protect it from termites (Coptotermes gestroi). The experiment had a completely randomized design with 10 treatments involving three wood preservatives (acetic acid, boron compounds, and mixtures of both), three treatment lengths (1, 12, and 24 h), and untreated wood, with five replicates of each for a total of 50 conditions. The moisture content of the wood and the wood destroyed by termites were assessed. The L. leucocephala wood treated with boron compounds for 1 h resulted increase in moisture content and no termite damage.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 61, Number 5, 2016
Andrea Nasswettrová, Soňa Křivánková, Pavel Šmíra, Jan Štěpánek, Martin Friedl, and Jan Trubák

Acoustic detection of wood-destroying insects during

This thesis deals with experimental verification of hot-air preservation efficiency on wooden members of structures against larvae of wood-destroying insects, particularly against larvae of longhorn beetle Hylotrupes bajulus L. The verification of hot-air efficiency on mortality of larvae was performed within the process of hot-air preservation of a room of a building in Čeladná, Czech Republic. Parameters of hot-air preservation met the specifications of standards according to which the process is controlled. The efficiency was monitored by means of the Acoustic Pack acoustic system which recorded acoustic emissions of larvae emitted during wood ingestion. To verify the acoustic system and hot-air preservation, the samples were subject to destruction analysis after the preservation. Using a Keyence VHX-S550E digital microscope, the analysis of changes in the structure of larvae before and after the process of preservation was performed. The results showed that designed parameters of hot-air preservation lead to the mortality of larvae.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 62, Number 6, 2017
Muhammad Syazwan, Bin Azmi, Lee Choon Wai, Mohd Firdaus Bin Yhaya, Norli Ismail, Husnul Azan Bin Tajarudin, Hamidi Abdulaziz, and Kok Kwang Ng

Preservation of rubber wood against biological decay by salts derived from leachate

Wood preservatives are typically chemicals that granted antimicrobial properties to timber, while leachate is the liquid that percolated through accumulation of waste materials. Clostridium butyricum NCIMB 7423 was used to ferment leachate with 1.15 L working volume under anaerobic condition at 37°C and pH 6.5.This research focuses on preserving rubber wood by acids and salts derived from the fermented leachate. First and second set of treatment were performed to study fungal resistance of wood treated by acids and salts respectively. Biological decay test was conducted using Phanerochaete chrysosporium to determine the percentage of mass loss for different preservatives. The salt concentration of 0.5 M sodium acetate and sodium butyrate shows satisfactory result to preserve rubber wood. Thus, the salts derivative could be converted into rubber wood preservative. This research will reflect to material from waste to wealth and support sustainable technology.