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Comparative evaluation of boron distribution from ulexite, colemanite and DOT rods in Scots pine wood

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Abstract

This study evaluated boron diffusion from rods made of raw boron minerals, ulexite and colemanite with low water solubility, in comparison with di-sodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT). Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood and heartwood blocks were conditioned to target moisture contents of 30%, 60%, and 90%. The rods were inserted into the blocks through treatment holes and boron diffusion was observed at three assay zones across the blocks after 7, 30, 60 and 90-day-incubation at room temperature. Ethylene glycol was also inserted into the holes to improve boron diffusion. Boron levels increased with increased wood moisture content. With some exceptions, boron in the assay zones did not tend to follow consistent amount gradients with distance from the treatment hole. Boron levels from ulexite rods were higher than those from colemanite rods, with DOT rods with the highest diffusion rates as a result of higher water solubility of DOT than ulexite and colemanite. The results suggest that ulexite-based rods may be useful in the presence of ethylene glycol in sapwood when wood is at high moisture content for extended periods.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Karaoğluları Forest Products, Construction, Automotive Industry and Trade Incorporated Company, Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey for Scots pine logs. The boron compounds used were supplied by Eti Maden, Ankarta (Ankara), Turkey. The boron rods were manufactured at Remsan Refractory Material Industries Inc., Istanbul, Turkey. This paper was partly presented at an International Symposium on Boron—BORON 2019 in Nevşehir, Turkey April 17–19, 2019. The work was supported by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) under 1005—National New Ideas and Products R&D Funding Program (Project No: 1160149).

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Correspondence to Saip Nami Kartal.

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Project funding: The work was supported by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) under 1005—National New Ideas and Products R&D Funding Program (Project No: 1160149).

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Corresponding editor: Tao Xu

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Kartal, S.N., Terzi, E., Figen, A.K. et al. Comparative evaluation of boron distribution from ulexite, colemanite and DOT rods in Scots pine wood. J. For. Res. 32, 419–426 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-019-01024-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-019-01024-6

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