Treatment of wood and other lignocellulosic materials with iodates

Abstract

This invention is a method for the protection of wood and other lignocellulosic materials from attack by micro-organisms with the use of iodates. The method consists of treating wood or other lignocellulosic material by soaking it in a solution of iodate for a period of time ranging from three hours to seven days at temperatures between 20.degree. C. and 50.degree. C. The treated material is then removed from the solution and dried. Wood treated with this method shows resistance to attack by wood-degrading micro-organisms. Furthermore, the iodates are resistant to leaching from the wood and other lignocellulosic materials after such treatment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.