Assessing the antifungal efficacy of organic fungicides combined with inorganic salts for wood protection

Abstract

Wood is a very useful construction material that has been used for many years in several applications. The organic composition of wood makes it vulnerable to several bio-deteriorating agents. To prolong its lifespan, wood needs to be treated with wood preservatives. Environmental concerns regarding first and second-generation wood preservatives have led to a shift toward using carbon-based third-generation preservatives, particularly triazoles. Preservative formulations with minimal adverse on the environment and human health have gained increasing focus. This study examines the antifungal properties of an organic fungicide used in combination with inorganic salts as a wood preservative, employing a petri plate bioassay. Additionally, antifungal efficacy was assessed in impregnated mango wood blocks. The results indicated a gradual decline in weight loss percentages of 2.37 % and 3.39 % against both brown rot and white rot fungi. These results imply that using a combination of inorganic salts with organic fungicides can serve as an effective way to preserve wood sustainably. Both Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze alterations in microstructure and chemical structure, respectively. The incorporation of organic fungicides with inorganic salts enhances resistance to fungi; furthermore, FTIR analysis and SEM micrographs of deteriorated wood demonstrated that treated specimens showed less degradation compared to controls.