Influence of dose bark cover and endgrain sealing on ethanedinitrile (C₂N₂) sorption by pine (<i>Pinus radiata</i> D Don) logs

Abstract

High sorption by Pinus radiata (D Don) logs may limit insecticidal efficacy of a fumigant by rapidly removing it from the treated headspace The sorption characteristics of a new fumigant ethanedinitrile (EDN) were quantified for recently harvested pine logs and the robustness of a proposed EDN sorption model developed for sawn timber was tested Over a 10h period average concentrations were 173 plusmn;1048724; 07 of the initial dose for logs with sealed ends and 94 1048724;plusmn; 04 for unsealed ends This is a high rate of sorption compared with other fumigants such as methyl bromide A proportional drop in headspace concentration over time was consistent for the two doses (20 and 50 g/m³) evaluated confirming that EDN sorption is influenced by the dose applied Bark cover did not significantly influence EDN sorption A revised sorption model for EDN is proposed here