Non-aqueous solvents have a long history in the treatment of wood products in various parts of the world. The most familiar solvent treatment is the ‘light organic solvent preservative’ (LOSP) treatment based on low density solvents such as white sprit. Until recently white spirit was the only non-aqueous solvent approved for use in wood preservation in New Zealand. Australia also permitted the use of lights oils such as kerosene. Methylene Chloride is colourless, non-flammable, volatile solvent commonly used in many industries. In order to gain standards acceptance for the use of methylene chloride as a wood treatment solvent, we compared biocide performance in timber treated with commercial rates and dilutions of propiconazole, tebuconazole and permethrin using white spirit and methylene chloride as the preservative carrier. A pure culture decay ‘Sutter’ test and a termite field test showed preservative bio-equivalence between the white spirit and methylene chloride solvent systems.

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