Extensive research on various plant and microbial extracts has been conducted as an alternative to using synthetic or inorganic chemicals for wood protection. Development of effective and low environmental impact products and technologies for wood protection is imperative. In the present study, the efficacy of coconut shell pyrolytic oil as a wood protectant is analysed in terms of its antifungal, antiborer and termiticidal activities. The antifungal, antiborer and antitermite activity of coconut shell pyrolytic oil was assessed by BIS standards IS 4873 (Part I: 2008), IS 4873 (Part II: 2008) and IS 4833 :( 1993) respectively. Wood decay fungi namely, Tyromyces versicolor (L.) Fr. and Polyporus sanguineus (L.) G. Mey (white rot) Polyporus meliae (Undrew.) Murrill. and Oligoporus placenta (Fr.) Gilb. & Ryvarden( brown rot) were used to determine the antifungal effect of coconut shell pyrolytic oil. The antiborer effect of coconut shell oil was indicated by its efficacy in protecting the treated test blocks against Lyctus africanus lesne. Grave yard test was performed to determine the termiticidal activity of coconut shell pyrolytic oil against the termite fauna identified at the test yard Odontotermes horni (Wasmann), Odontotermes obesus (Rambur), Odontotermes redemanni (Wasmann) and Microtermes obesi (Holmgren). The effectiveness of coconut shell pyrolytic oil was expressed as percentage weight loss of the treated test blocks compared to untreated blocks. It was observed that coconut shell pyrolytic oil gave better protection against wood decaying organisms. When treatment methods were compared dip treatment was found to be significantly better than brush coating method. Coconut shell pyrolytic oil has the potential to be a new wood protectant of natural origin which can replace synthetic wood preservatives in future. Being a waste bye product of coconut shell charcoal industry, its utilization as a wood protectant will be a value addition to such industries.

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