Rapid analysis - chances and limitations

IRG/WP 99-50130

A Peylo, R-D Peek

The reuse of wood out of service in the particle board industry demands a proper handling and separation of assortments with differing content and nature of preservative. A pre-selection based on visual and olfactorial characteristics can be carried out for certain assortments like sleepers, poles, etc. Problems arise from diffuse and less intensive treated wood which is regularly dip-treated or brushed and which may have been leached out by rain since demolition. On the other hand, due to possibte leaching processes, previously untreated wood can be contaminated during storage, thus resulting in a low and ineffective content of preservative, but in a higher concentration than the limit values will allow. Thus, analysis of wood out of service before reuse is recommended. Due to the high throughput during processing, there is no time for classical laboratory analysis. For this reason, the objective of a joint project financed by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) was to investigate various techniques for rapid analysis and to develop a successful approach to be used in practice. An overview of the state of developments and the possibilities for the rapid analysis of wood waste were presented at IRG 29 (IRG/WP/98-50104). Now, the joint research project reaches its end showing the possibilities and limitations of rapid analysis. In conclusion, the techniques showed their ability for the detection of a broad range of organic and inorganic wood preservatives in a range representing the spectrum from natural content up to impregnation by pressure treatment. The prerequisite is a homogenous sample due to the extreme inhomogeneous distribution of wood preservatives in wood after service. Thus, rapid laboratory analysis can be executed but a routines analysis of solid wood out of service in the entrance control seams not to be applicable.


Keywords: RAPID ANALYSIS; WASTE WOOD; QUALITY CONTROI; REUSE

Conference: 99-06-06/11 Rosenheim, Germany


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