Effect of fumigant dose, timber moisture content, end-grain sealing, and chamber load factor on sorption by sawn timber fumigated with ethanedinitrile

摘要

Ethanedinitrile (EDN, syn. cyanogen, EDN Fumigas~R) is a relatively new fumigant with the potential to disinfest quarantine pests from radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) logs and sawn timber for export. This research evaluated the effects of dose (20g/m3 or 50 g/m3), timber moisture content (green or kiln dried sawn timber), end-grain sealing (sealed or unsealed timber end-grain) and load factor (11% or 44%) on sorption of EDN by sawn timber at 15°C. This was quantified using headspace samples taken from 28-litre fumigation chambers. Chamber loading significantly influenced sorption, with higher loading resulting in greater sorption. Changes in the dose of EDN did not affect the sorption pattern. Increased moisture content and end-grain sealing both reduced sorption, but these effects were relatively small and the differences in sorption patterns caused by moisture content or end-grain sealing decreased over time.