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Research Project: Development of Enhanced Bio-Based Products from Low Value Agricultural Co-Products and Wastes

Location: Functional Foods Research

Title: Butylated hydroxytoluene and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid combined with cedarwood oil as wood treatments for protection from subterranean termites and wood-decaying fungi

Author
item Eller, Fred
item KIRKER, GRANT - Us Forest Service (FS)
item MANKOWSKI, MARK - Us Forest Service (FS)
item SELLING, GORDON - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: BioResources
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/8/2024
Publication Date: 7/15/2024
Citation: Eller, F.J., Kirker, G., Mankowski, M., Selling, G. 2024. Butylated hydroxytoluene and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid combined with cedarwood oil as wood treatments for protection from subterranean termites and wood-decaying fungi. BioResources. https://doi.org10.15376/biores.19.3.5847-5861.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.19.3.5847-5861

Interpretive Summary: Wood is subject to attack by a variety of destructive organisms like termites and wood-decay fungi. Cedarwood oil (CWO) from naturally durable Eastern red cedar has been shown to impart resistance to otherwise non-durable wood. In addition, compounds like the antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and the metal chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) have been shown to improve the performance of other biocides for protecting wood. This research investigated the effects of BHT and EDTA in combination with CWO for wood preservation. CWO alone, CWO/EDTA, BHT alone and EDTA alone all gave excellent protection against termites and caused 100% mortality. CWO alone and CWO/EDTA were effective at preventing fungal mass loss. These results demonstrate that the addition of EDTA to CWO for treating wood leads to wood that is more resistant to attack by termites and wood-decay fungi and a more durable wood product.

Technical Abstract: This study investigated the effects of the antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and the metal chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in combination with cedarwood oil (CWO) for wood preservation against subterranean termites and two species of white-rot decay fungi and two species of brown-rot decay fungi. Vacuum/pressure impregnation was used to treat wood blocks. Resistance of the treated wood test samples was evaluated using a no-choice bioassay for termites and a soil bottle assay wood decay fungi. Eight wood block treatments were tested: H2O only; BHT only; EDTA only; BHT with EDTA; CWO only; CWO with EDTA; CWO with BHT; and CWO with BHT plus EDTA. For termites, the lowest percentage mass losses were for the EDTA, BHT, CWO and CWO/EDTA treatments, all of which were statistically equivalent. Correspondingly, these treatments all had the highest termite mortalities at 100%. The four species of decay fungi were affected differently by the wood treatments, however, overall CWO and EDTA gave the best protection against mass loss. The addition of BHT did not decrease mass loss.