This study aims to test if a second step impregnation with a geopolymer solution can fix Colatan GT10, a commercial extract rich in tannins, to wood, reducing their leaching and improving their performance as wood preservatives. Scots pine sapwood specimens of 40×10×5 mm3 were impregnated with Colatan GT10 tannin mix, geopolymer, and as combined treatment Colatan GT10 with subsequent geopolymer impregnation. Untreated pine specimens were used as controls. Half of the specimens from each treatment were exposed to leaching test. All specimens were exposed to a 4-month in vitro decay test with the fungus Coniophora puteana. The results showed that for unleached samples the mass loss caused by C. puteana was reduced in all the treatments but the lowest geopolymer concentration. Leached wood specimens treated with only tannins and only geopolymers had a similar mass loss to controls, but those treated first with combinatory treatment had lower mass loss than controls. These results show the potential of geopolymers in wood preservation to fix bio-based preservatives such as tannins to wood.

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