For the disposal of wood waste under ecological sound conditions information about its hazardous potential is required. Until now, no highly sensitive rapid analytical methods are available for the detection of wood preservatives under industrial process conditions. Preliminary experiments showed that Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) could be a promising method for rapid detection of organic preservatives in waste wood. A number of organic wood preservatives (i.e. Al-HDO, Quat, Armoblen, Azaconzole, HCH, Creosote, DCFN, Furmecylox, MBT, Methyl-parathion, PCP, Permethrin, K-o-PP, TBTO, TCMTB and Tebuconazole) was studied. Both solutions and treated wood samples were analyzed with IMS. IMS-spectra are generated by analyzing the ionized volatile compounds of the samples. The time each ion needs to proceed to a detector is specific and can be characterized by a comparable Ko value, the so-called reduced mobility constant. A 'fingerprint' of the wood and the chemicals is obtained. IMS was able to distinguish between most of the preservatives. However, in wood, some of the chemicals could not be determined. So far the results are provisional and further investigation is needed.

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