Protection of Wood Using Combinations of Biocides

Traditional wood preservatives provide a broad spectrum of activity but are being increasing regulated due to perceived environmental concerns. New organic biocides, developed for applications other than protecting wood, possess low toxicity and high selectivity against some organisms. However, the high selectivity also means that a particular biocide may be relatively inactive against a few of the many wood-destroying or staining/molding organisms. One possible solution is to develop new formulations based upon synergistic blends of biocides which are already registered for other non-wood applications. These formulated products can possess a broad spectrum of activity and low environmental impact. Examples of several synergistic combinations which are effective against stains and molds, or wood-destroying organisms, are given. This approach offers a good opportunity to develop new, relatively low cost and environmentally-benign wood protection systems.