Efficiency of bio-oil obtained from giant reed (Arundo donax L.) as a wood preservative

In this thesis, It was aimed to determine the efficiency of bio-oil obtained from Giant reed (Arundo donax) as a wood preservative. Bio-oil was produced by pyrolysis process (450-525°C) which product yields were consist of 45 % liquid, 30 % solid, 25 % gas. The main components of bio-oil by using GC/MS were 7,1 % guaicols (methoxy phenols), 5,87 % lignin-derived phenols, 5,72 % syringols (dimethoxy phenols). Samples were treated with epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) in order to prevent leaching of bio-oil. Full cell and empty cell methods were applied for treatment. Leached samples were exposed to white (Trametes versicolor) and brown (Poria placenta, Gloephyllum trabeum, Coniophora puteana) rot fungi according to the EN 113 standard. Weight losses of treated samples were found less than 3 % except for samples treated with 10 % bio-oil. According to dimensional stability test, the amount of water absorbed decreased (4-30 %) for the samples treated second time with ELO. The lowest leached group was determined for 20 % bio-oil+ELO through GC/MS analysis of leached water. As a result of inhibition test, the highest development of mycelium growth was found Trametes versicolor (3 cm) at the end of the second week. For termite test; no termite activity was found on the test samples, however 82 % of termite activity was determined for control samples. Regarding mechanical properties, bio-oil decreased the mechanical strength of the samples.Key Words: Pyrolysis, Bio-oil, Wood decay, Termite, Water absorption, Mechanical properties