A quantitative analysis of the content of active substances in wood is often demanded in quality control after processing and for the proper waste management. As a measure for quality control, analysis has the advantage that the type of preservative is known and assumptions can be made about its distribution in the treated wood.W aste wood may have been treated by a wide range of organic and inorganic preservatives. Therefore, differing methods of analysis have to be used. A correct sampling, however, is a problem due to the very inhomogeneous distribution of preservatives in treated wood influenced by the structure and composition of wood, type and composition of wood preservatives and their application to impregnated wood. the kind of sampling. As a result of literature investigation and own research, an overview over the influencing parameters, structure and composition of wood, type and composition of wood preservatives and their application to impregnated wood. Furthermore, secondary changes due to leaching, evaporation and ageing of active ingredients during service might contribute to an even more uneven distribution. Thus, analytical results can deviate extremely depending on the kind of sampling carried out. The smaller the sample the higher the deviations. Due to this, the applicability of techniques based on small samples, which is characteristic for rapid analysis, is restricted. Multiple data are available on distribution and ist alteration. As a result of a literature survey as well as own research, a summarising overview of the influencing parameters and their effects will be provided. It therefore does not seem practical to implement a general method of sampling. The sampling depends rather on the questions being asked by the investigation and, abover all, on the material under investigation.

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