Nano-chitosan Particles as Wood Preservatives

摘要

This research evaluates the efficacy of nano-chitosan as an environmentally-friendly wood protection agent. Commercially available low molecular weight (LMW) chitosan was purified and depolymerized by nitrous acid, and thus, depolymerized chitosan wasused to form N, N, N-trimethylchitosan (quaternized chitosan). Both depolymerized and quaternized chitosan oligomers were crosslinked with tripolyphosphate (TPP) to form nanoparticles. Wood samples were treated with nanochitosan solutions under vacuum.Penetration and interaction of nanoparticles with wood were evaluated through bulking and retention tests. The characteristics of nanochitosan-treated wood are discussed.