14 – Biopolymers for wood preservation

Biopolymers and their derivatives are attracting considerable interest as alternatives in wood protection, because of their availability, nontoxicity, and compatibility toward the main wood components. The aim of this chapter is to present information regarding the general degradative factors affecting wood quality, their mechanism of action, and the method for diminishing their action by using mainly bioderived preservatives. From the plethora of biopolymers, only those which have shown promising results in laboratory and/or field tests have been presented. They include polysaccharides, proteins, resins, unsaturated vegetable oils, either alone or in combination with traditional biocides. Each discussed category includes details about the mechanism of action and the method of application to wood. The authors' own results are also presented under each category of biopolymer discussed.