ZitroWood

Bio-based and environmentally friendly modification of wood based on sorbitol and citric acid

This project aims at the development of an innovative, bio-based wood-modification process of low-durable wood species using renewable impregnation chemicals (sorbitol and citric acid). The overall objective of this project is to develop and transfer environmentally friendly wood-modification technology from laboratory to pilot scale. In addition to the transfer of the modification technology (optimization of the process conditions in laboratory and pilot scale based on pine wood), the project also focuses on the inquiry of material-specific properties (e.g., moisture-induced, biological, elasto-mechanical properties) after treatment with sorbitol and citric acid. Furthermore, the examination according to standardized test procedures of application-oriented properties (e.g., bonding, surface coating, weathering stability) of the treated wood (pine, beech, birch, poplar) is also a key part of this project. Furthermore, the long-term effect of the wood treatment in an acidic environment is investigated on the treated wood and the impregnation system.