Effectiveness of three Gabonese tree resin fractions combined with tebuconazole as wood preservative formulations

Wood treatments based on oleoresins from Aucoumea Klaineana, Canarium schweinfurthii and Dacryodes edulis have shown interesting anti-termites properties but poor resistance to fungi and leaching. Oleoresins were combined with tebuconazole to produce both antifungal and anti-termite wood preservatives formulations with an expected better fixation of chemicals mixtures in the wood. Beech and Scots pine wood block samples were impregnated by these different formulations and exposed to white and brown rot, respectively, as well as to European termite (Reticulitermes flavipes). The use of aqueous formulations of each oleoresin of combined to tebuconazole improved the wood resistance against termites and mainly brown rot. In addition, the best formulation was found by using the raw resin from Aucoumea Klaineana. These results are mainly due to the antifungal activity of tebuconazole. In addition, the presence of antioxidant chemicals in the wood resins inhibits the wood decay fungi growth and acts as enzyme and metabolism inhibitors disturbing the treated wood digestion process by termites. For the future, the promising protection obtained should be formulated to be resistant to leaching.