The bonding sites for copper in wood from CCA, as well as ammoniacal/amine based systems, has long been a topic of investigation. Both phenolic and carboxylic functional groups have been discussed as potential bonding sites for copper. However, no consensus on the adsorption mechanism has been realized. Thus, the selective adsorption of copper in southern yellow pine from ethanolamine-copper solutions and its correlation to wood acidity is currently being investigated. The wood acidity has been determined by acid/base titration, and is due to more than one type of acidic group. The acid(s) can be removed by thermal treatment or extraction techniques, and, interestingly, the selective adsorption of copper was observed to track the presence of particular acid functionalities. The preferential adsorption of copper and the mechanisms behind such will be discussed.

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