The liquefaction of wood is one of promising approaches in utilization of woody waste which is generated during primary and secondary processing of wood and liquefied wood having various application including bio-based preservatives. The biological degradation of wood due to fungi is the major problem encountered in indoor and outdoor utilization of wood. In this study, woody waste recovered from wood based industry was liquefied in phenol, glycerol and polyethylene glycol as liquefying media under defined reaction condition to produce chemically active liquid. These liquefied woods were used as preservatives and its efficacy were evaluated after impregnation of wood against fungi. The level of impregnation of preservative in wood was estimated by the weight percent gain after impregnation and the changes were characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The melia wood samples have been impregnated with liquefied wood and untreated wood sample were also exposed to a brown rot (Polyporus meliae and Oligoporus placentus) and a white rot (Trametes hirsuta (Wulf. Ex Fr.) and Trametes versicolor (L. Ex Fr.) fungus for 16 weeks under laboratory conditions as per IS: 4873 (Part I), 2008. Investigation indicated that phenolated wood inhibited fungal growth in the wood. The fungicidal traits of phenolated wood showed higher antifungal efficacy against both white rot and brown rot of wood whereas wood samples impregnated with liquefied wood in glycerol and polyethylene glycol shows insignificant effects on growth of fungus and is similar infested as to control samples. The increased fungal resistance of phenolated wood indicates liquefied wood polyols has a promising potential for treatment of wood against natural wood decaying agents. The liquefaction of wood opens up new avenues for utilization of woody waste for development of organic preservative which is environmental friendly and also provides greener and sustainable option to the world for present and coming generation.

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