Influence of Mesoporous Inorganic Al-B-P Amphiprotic Surfactant Material Resistances of Wood against Brown and White-Rot Fungi (Part 1)

This study describes the application of aluminum sulfate Al-2(SO4)(3), boric acid H3BO3, phosphoric acid H3PO4 (Al-B-P) and amphiprotic surfactant material synthesis by the sol-gel process, which were adopted as novel precursors for wood modification. The efficacy of Al-B-P-treated wood was tested against Poria placenta and Coriolus versicolor. Untreated wood samples had higher mass losses (>40%) compared to the treated sample, which had the lowest wood mass losses (of 4%) against P. placenta and C. versicolor. To analyze the reaction mechanism of Al-B-P wood, the mechanical properties, chemical structure, crystallinity, thermal analysis, binding energy and wettability was examined by modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Scanning electron microscopy- energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) confirmed the wood colonization by fungi, and was used to identify the microstructures and morphologies changes that occurred in the cells during degradation by white and brown-rot fungi. At the same time, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to analyze the physical and chemical properties of the samples. Therefore, the study confirmed that Al-B-P and amphiprotic surfactant could replace the traditional wood preservative products, and have the potential to extend the service life of wood, particularly in soil contact and outdoor usage.