Progress 05/01/23 to 04/30/24
Outputs
Target Audience:One Ph.D. student from under under-representative minority groups Students (2) who were taking FSP 550 Biomaterial Deterioration and Protection course at the University of Idaho: both graduate students Students (4) who were taking FSP 201 Biomaterial Deterioration and Protection course at the University of Idaho: both graduate students Students (~25) who were taking ENVS 300 (s) Environmental Sci Seminar at the University of Idaho: including 3 Moscow high school students Changes/Problems:A non-cost extension request was approved on Aug.2023 due to delayed student onboarding during the pandemic that has arisen during the course of the project. As a result, additional time is required to fully accomplish the research goals and ensure the project's success. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The student meets weekly with the PI to update the research progress and issues encountered during the experiment. The PI helped provide timely feedback to ensure the progress of the project. The student has also been offered the opportunity to learn new instrumentations, including Thewas trained on how to use the particle size analyzer to determine the particle sizes of nanomaterials, SEM/EDX analysis of samples for surface analysis, GCMS analysis on bio-oils to determine their chemical composition. The student was offered opportunities in other collaborative work with one publications in 2023, one in 2024 The student presented in the SWST international convention to present his research findings both orally and in poster format, networking with other professionals in the filed and learn the newest research in the wood science field in general. provided peer-mentoring opportunities to help mentor an undergraduate student in learning how to conduct research in the laboratory and the research was published in a prestigious journal (Alorbu, C., Carey, J., McDonald, A.G. and Cai, L., 2023. Antifungal properties of lauric arginate (LAE) treated wood. Holzforschung.) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The preliminary findings from this research have also been incorporated into the three courses: FSP 450/550 Biomaterial Deterioration and Protection, FSP 201 Forest and Sustainable Products for a green planet & ENVS 300 (s) Environmental Sci Seminar at the University of Idaho, to inform students about the newest research going on in the field of wood protection. The student was offered an opportunity to present his work both orally and in poster) about the ZnO-EG work at the Society of Wood Science and Technology conference in Asheville, North Carolina, June 25 -30, 2023. This conference had attracted over 200 attendees. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The following are the next experimental planned activities that will be conducted on the various projects. Part 1. ZnO-EG cement-treated wood Present data on long duration (6 weeks) accelerated weathering test on ZnO-EG treated wood Part 2. Replacing EG with wood pyrolysis oil and Clove oil as cheaper and more economical options for ZnO-based cement complex for wood protection Characterization of ZnO-CO and ZnO-PO treated wood (FTIR, TGA, etc.) Scaled-up fungal decay test on ZnO-CO and ZnO-PO treated wood Accelerated weathering test on ZnO-CO and ZnO-PO treated wood Hydrophobicity test on ZnO-CO and ZnO-PO treated wood Part 3. In-situ growth of nano ZnO in wood for the formation ZnO based cement complexes with PO and CO. Further Characterization of in situ growth of ZnO in wood (FTIR, TGA, etc.) Leaching test on situ growth of ZnO in wood Feasibility of reacting in situ ZnO treated wood with EG, PO, and CO and performing fungal decay test on ZnO-CO and ZnO-PO treated wood Accelerated weathering test in situ grown ZnO treated wood
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The overarching goal of this project is to develop an environmentally friendly approach for wood protection using model chemicals, plant extracts containing phenolics and biologically active compounds,e.g. eugenol and nanoparticles, e.g., ZnO, both of which have their unique wood-protecting potency but also their weaknesses. The combination is hypothesized to be superior and provide synergistic protection efficacy for wood products. As such, thefirst partof the research is to demonstrate the feasibility of using ZnO-EG cement for improved wood protection, which was confirmed in our last year's progress report. The remaining experiment has been completed as scheduled, which includes the termicidal test, fire resistance test, accelerated weathering test, and hydrophobicity test on ZnO-EG treated samples. It was found that ZnO-EG treatment significantly prevents the termites' attack, does not make the wood more flammable and result in more char formation and residuals. Despite more color changes in ZnO-EG treated wood, the samples are more dimensional stable after two-weeks of artificial weathering process as compared to the untreated control. Moreover, the ZnO-EG treated wood becomes more hydrophobic with contact angles of nearly 90 degrees than those of the control at 20 degrees after 60 seconds of water sitting on the top of the wood samples. With promising data for the first part of the project, we proposed replacing eugenol with more cost-effective phenolic compounds, i.e., clove oils and pyrolysis oils. The main oil constituents of clove oils are eugenol (70-95 %), eugenol acetate (up to 20 %) and β-caryophyllene (12-17 %) while the main compositions in pyrolysis oils are phenolics. As of July 2024, the prices for eugenol, clove oil, and pyrolysis oil vary significantly due to differences in their production processes and applications. Based on global infor research https://www.globalinforesearch.com/reports/1837485/eugenol, the price of eugenol ranges from $35 to $45 per kilogram. Clove oil is priced between $20 and $30 per kilogram. Pyrolysis oil, derived from biomass, is less expensive, typically around $0.60 to $1 per liter, depending on the feedstock and processing technology used. The price disparities reflect the differences in their sources, extraction methods, and market demand?. Similar to what have been done in the first part of the project, the wood samples were treated with either clove oils or pyrolysis oils and then commercial nanoZnO. The samples were exposed to leaching test and the mass gain before and after leaching tests were collected. The samples were exposed to two brown rots (G.t. and R.p,) and two white rots (T.v. and I.l.), the results from the decay test showed that 5% and 10% Pyrolysis Oil (PO)-contained ZnO-PO cement-treated wood recorded mass loss < 5% regardless of leaching and fungal type. Replacing eugenol with clove oil in the ZnO based cement also provides similar results to ZnO-EG treatment. Therefore, clove oils and pyrolysis oils could be an feasible cost-effective alternative to EG in the formation of ZnO-based cement complexes in wood as environmentally sustainable wood preservatives. More research on other properties, such as weathering, fire etc. will be shared in the next annual report. The third part of this project is to directly grow nano ZnO in wood from precursor solutions of Zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO3)·6H2O) and Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) following procedures described by Dong et al. (2017). This will serve as a cheaper and cost-effective option to the commercial water-dispersed nano ZnO selling on the market. The Zn(NO3)·6H2O and the NaOH were purchased from reputable for the preliminary study. First, 1M Zn(NO3)·6H2O solution was prepared by dissolving the solutes in DI water. Wood samples were conditioned at 60 ?C until a consistent weight was attained were submerged in Zn(NO3) solution and subjected to vacuum impregnation for 1h. After impregnation, the excessive solution on the wood surface was washed with DI water and rapidly immersed in the NaOH solution (0.4 mol/L) for 48 h at room temperature. Next, wood samples were washed with deionized water until they reached a neutral pH value. Finally, the samples were conditioned at 60 °C for 48 h to obtain ZnO-treated wood materials. To confirm the formation of ZnO in wood, wood sections were cut from the ZnO-treated wood samples using a microtome and samples were subjected to SEM/EDX analysis. The SEM images show the deposits of particulate in the cells of the treated wood compared to untreated control wood EDX analysis of the SEM images confirms that the deposits in the wood cells as ZnO nanoparticles with the associated peaks. Based on the preliminary data from the study, we can confirm this approach of in situ growth of ZnO in wood is feasible to explore further and hence more details of this research will be presented in the next annual report.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Alorbu C, Carey J, McDonald AG, Cai L. Antifungal properties of lauric arginate (LAE) treated wood. Holzforschung. 2023 Aug 28;77(8):640-7.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Wood protection properties of Zinc Oxide-based Cement complex from Clove oil and wood pyrolysis oil; Presentation (both Oral and Poster) of ZnO-EG work at the Society of Wood Science and Technology conference in Asheville, North Carolina, June 25 -30, 2023
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Progress 05/01/22 to 04/30/23
Outputs
Target Audience:One Ph.D. student from under representative minority group Students (8) who were taking FSP 450/550 Biomaterial Deterioration and Protection course at the University of Idaho: one undergraduate student and seven graduate students (two female + four Black or African Americans) High school students and community visitors from northern Idaho Changes/Problems:A no-cost extension of 1 year to 2025-04-30 for this USDA NIFA grant has been requestedThis extension will provide sufficient time for the successful completion of the project objectives. Student onboarding was during the pandemic. As a result, additional time is required to fully accomplish the research goals,ensure the project's successandproduce high-quality results that align with the objectives outlined in the grant proposal. Moreover, I have reassessed the budget for the remaining period of the project and can confirm that no additional funding is necessary to achieve the proposed objectives. We will utilize the remaining funds judiciously to support the completion of research activities and dissemination efforts within the extended timeframe. I understand the importance of adhering to grant deadlines and guidelines, and I assure you that I will make every effort to expedite the completion of the project within the requested extension period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A Ph.D. student is hired and trained in this project as initially proposed. The student meets weekly with the PI to update the research progress and issues encountered during the experiment. The PI helped provide timely feedback to ensure the progress of the project. The student has also been offered the opportunity to learn new instrumentations, including 1) learning how to conduct CT scans of wood and wood products and how to process the data using different types of software; 2) Attending seminars and learning how to use the Xenon arc artificial weathering machine to conduct weathering tests on samples; 3) Professional training on how to use the Limited oxygen index instrument to determine how minimum amount of oxygen needed to sustain the flaming of the treated samples. In addition, the student 1)attended the Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST), 2023 convention in Asheville, North Carolina where he presented our work as a speaker and participated in the poster competition to build public speaking skills and confidence; 2) attended seminars on how to write scientific articles and publications 3) provided peer-mentoring opportunities to help mentor an undergraduate student in learning how to conduct research in the laboratory and the research was published in a prestigious journal (Alorbu, C., Carey, J., McDonald, A.G. and Cai, L., 2023. Antifungal properties of lauric arginate (LAE) treated wood. Holzforschung, (0).) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The preliminary findings from this research have also been incorporated into the FSP 450/550 Biomaterial Deterioration and Protection course to inform students about the newest research going on in the field of wood protection. The student was offered an opportunity to participate in 2023 Earth Day events to promote the use of wood products and had attracted over 300 students (high school and college students) stopped by the booster. Around 20 students expressed interest in a lab tour with Forest and Sustainable products program and the PI is currently coordinating the process. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our preliminary trials have suggested that improved durability of ZnO-EG treated wood and we have conducted a larger scale experiment and would like to explore the muti-functionality of ZnO-EG treated wood through the testing below: Termiticidal properties of ZnO-EG treated wood. Artificial Weathering test on ZnO-EG treated wood. Fire Resistance of ZnO-EG treated wood (including the Limited Oxygen Index (LOI) & Mass loss cone test) Hydrophobicity test on ZnO-EG treated wood (contact angle test) Mechanical bending test of ZnO-EG treated wood. Other characterization methods will be explored to determine the presence and the formation of ZnO-EG cement in wood. We are also planning to collaborate with an expert in life cycle analysis to conduct a preliminary experiment on how the environmental impact of this new treatment differs from the traditional version. Finally, this study has opened a great opportunity to explore cheaper substitutes for eugenol or nano-ZnO, which we will work on in the next report period.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We have successfully completed the majority parts of the specific objectives (1) to (4) listed above. For specific objective (1) we have prepared sapwoods of southern yellow pine (softwood) and poplar (hardwood) according to the procedures of the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) E-10 standards(AWPA, 2016), oven-dried, and weighed the samples. Based on our preliminary trial, we have finalized the treating concentrations to 1, 2.5, and 5% for both Zinc oxide (ZnO) and ZnO-EG. DI water and Eugenol (EG) treated samples were used as controls. A two-step vacuum impregnation method was employed to ensure the in-situ formation of ZnO-EG in wood by first impregnating wood samples with nano ZnO suspension and subsequently with EG solution. Objectives (2) study the penetrability of ZnO-EG in wood structure & (3) test the resistance of ZnO-EG to leaching due to extensive water leaching conditions. Upon treatment and leaching test, we measured the mass gain before and after leaching test. It was found that Retention & Mass gain generally increases with increasing treatment level, ranging from 2% to 12%. Further computerized tomography (CT) scan of ZnO-EG treated wood samples show chemical deposits in vessels but absent in controls. Also, ZnO-EG samples shows higher intensity of color change under CT scan as compared to EG and ZnO treated wood, indicating the penetration of ZnO-EG in wood structures. In addition, we also conducted FTIR and TGA analysis of the treated wood samples. Objective (4) examine the resistance of ZnO-EG treated wood against brown-rot and white-rot fungi. Our ZnO-EG treated wood samples and their counterparts were exposed to brown rot fungi, Gloeophyllum trabeum (G.t.) and Rhodonia placenta (R.p.) and two white-rot fungi, Trametes versicolor (T.v.) and Irpex lacteus (I.l.) in a soil-block test. We have found that 1) DI and EG samples recorded high mass loss > 25% for all fungi; 2) fungus R.p. appears resistant to ZnO but 5% ZnO-EG samples recorded mass loss < 3%. Similarly, when fungi G.t., T.v., & I.l. exposed to 5% ZnO-EG treated samples regardless of leaching have mass loss < 3%, indicating ZnO-EG treated wood has improved antifungal Properties.
Publications
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