Effect of fumigant dose timber moisture content endgrain sealing and chamber load factor on sorption by sawn timber fumigated with ethanedinitrile

Abstract

Ethanedinitrile (EDN syn cyanogen EDN Fumigas) is a relatively new fumigant with the potential to disinfest quarantine pests from radiata pine (Pinus radiata D Don) logs and sawn timber for export This research evaluated the effects of dose (20 g/m³ or 50 g/m³) timber moisture content (green or kiln dried sawn timber) endgrain sealing (sealed or unsealed timber endgrain) and load factor (11 or 44) on sorption of EDN fumigation chambers Chamber loading significantly influenced sorption with higher loading resulting in greater sorption Changes in the dose of EDN did not affect the sorption pattern Increased moisture content and endgrain sealing both reduced sorption but these effects were relatively small and the differences in sorption patterns caused by moisture content or endgrain sealing decreased over time