The utilization of biocides to prevent biological degradation of wood in outdoor situations is facing increased challenges. Environmentally motivated legislation is restricting the use of biocides and thus incentivizing the search for new, low-cost wood modification technologies (Hill 2006). This research highlights the potentials for esterification of citric acid and sorbitol in wood by an aqueous modification process. Citric acid and sorbitol are both low priced and readily available feedstock chemicals, an essential pre-requisite for a commercial modification process. Limited research has been performed on the utilisation of sorbitol for wood modification. Bateson (1938,1939) conducted experiments on using sorbitol for dimensional stabilisation of the wooden matrix. More recent studies have been performed by Larnøy et al (2018).
Keywords: esterification, sorbitol, citric acid
Authors
Erik Larnøy
Norwegian institute of bioeconomy research
Andreas Treu
Greeley Beck
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