Aldehyde treatment of lumber

Abstract

A wood treatment method for reducing fungal growth utilizes a treatment solution comprising an aldehyde, a carrier solvent, an organic co-solvent, at least one surfactant, and at least one acid, base, or salt. In embodiments, the carrier solvent may comprise water and the organic co-solvent may comprise an alcohol or acetone. The aldehyde is impregnated into the wood, where it reacts with thiamine and other amino acids to promote cross-linking, reducing the porosity of the wood and thereby reducing the ability of various microbes and fungi to access the interior of the wood as a nutrient source.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.