A novel method for the removal of CCA components from spent CCA-treated wood has been developed. The CCA-treated wood was first converted into liquid in the presence of polyethylene glycol and glycerin at mild temperatures (120 – 150 0C) by using sulfuric acid as catalyst. The resulting viscous liquefied wood was then resolved in acetone/water solvent. The hazardous components (i.e., Cr, As, and Cu) in the solution were then removed through precipitation by addition of complexing agents. It was found that more than 85% of CCA could be removed from spent CCA-treated wood. The detoxified wood can be used as chemicals for the preparation of polyurethane materials and the recovered CCA can be reused in the CCA wood treatment industries.

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