Beech (Fagus orientalis) wood modification through the incorporation of polystyrene-ricinoleic acid copolymer with Ag nanoparticles

Abstract

Today, there is a growing interest in eco-friendly processes that are greatly needed as a result of the worldwide problem of environmental pollution. In this study, ricinoleic acid was autoxidized in the presence of silver nitrate in order to prepare ricinoleic acid macroperoxide initiator with silver nanoparticles (PriciAg). Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) sapwood samples were impregnated with the solution of PriciAg under vacuum in a small-scale impregnation container. Thermal polymerization of styrene with PriciAg was carried out inside the Beech sapwood samples leading to wood composite material containing polystyrene-g-ricinoleic acid with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The decay test of wood treated with AgNPs against white-rot (Trametes versicolor) fungus was then investigated. Insect resistance was performed with Trichoferus holosericeus Rossi. In addition, the leaching test was carried out according to the EN 84 standard and silver content in leached water measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis (AWPA A7). Chemical characterization of the modified wood was characterized using FTIR-ATR technique. The nano silver obtained via environmentally friendly processes exhibited high potential activity against white rot fungus. In addition, the AgNPs showed a higher resistance to leaching because of the polystyrene, as demonstrated by the resistance of treated samples to decay compared with that of the control. Leached and unleached test samples indicated the same mass loss after decay tests. FTIR spectra showed that characteristic peak values of polystyrene and ricinoleic acid appeared at 2980 cm(-1) and 1728 cm(-1), respectively in the impregnated wood. [GRAPHICS] .