Timber technology - Skog og landskap

INTELLIGENCE
PLEOT
PATENTED WOOD PROTECTION
BY MEANS OF ELECTRO OSMOTIC
PULSING TECHNOLOGY
OBJECTIVES
To develop and test a new wood
protection system using electro-osmotic
pulsing. Carbon storage can be extended
by increasing the lifespan of wood
products.
The working group is conducting
laboratory and fi eld trials in order
to evaluate electro-osmotic pulsing
technology on different wood species and
against various fungi species.
The primary goal is to prevent
deterioration of wood products caused by
fungal attack in outside applications.
PARTNERS
Norwegian Forest and Landscape
Institute, Norway
Miljøteknologi AS, Porsgrunn, Norway
FUNDING
Norwegian Research Council
Miljøteknologi AS
Innovation Norway
CONTACT
Dr Andreas Treu
Project Coordinator
Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute
Norsk institutt for skog og landskap
Pb 115
NO-1431 Ås
Norway
T +47 64 94 90 29
E andreas.treu@skogoglandskap.no
DR ANDREAS TREU is a researcher at
The Norwegian Forest and Landscape
Institute. He studied Forest Sciences and
Forest Ecology in Göttingen, Germany,
where he received his doctoral degree in
2006. His research interests lie within the
fi eld of wood technology, especially in
biodegradation and protection of wood.
98 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION
THE POTENTIAL OF PLEOT
The Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute has
shown successful applications for this technique
as highlighted in recent tests. So far the testing has
only been carried out by introducing fungi strains
onto the wood species in petri dishes. Some have
been attached to cables for the PLEOT technique
to be administered and these have been compared
to untreated wood samples. The results so far
have been promising. There was little or no mass
loss from the PLEOT protected wood specimens,
though there was a little discolouration at the
cathode end, whereas the unprotected wood
lost a signifi cant amount of mass to the fungi.
The discolouration in the protected wood is
hypothesised to stem from the cable elements,
such as nickel and copper, also travelling with
the electric fi eld to the cathode end, but new
electrode material has been developed to avoid
this effect and is now under testing.
Current fi ndings show that PLEOT fully protects
Scots pine sapwood, Norwegian spruce and beech
wood samples over 16 weeks when exposed to the
fungi Coniophora puteana and Trametes versicolor
in the laboratory trials. These tests demonstrate
that fungal degradation of untreated wood
samples due to the colonisation of microorganisms
can be stopped or slowed down to a controlled
pace if protected by PLEOT, demonstrating the
potential which the research holds for further
treatments and different scenarios.
LONG TERM SUCCESSES
Potential criticism of the method is negligible. For
example, from the perspective of sustainability,
the protection techniques of PLEOT do not
provide a completely carbon-neutral means of
wood protection as it relies on the application
of an electrical pulse. Though far less damaging
than its chemical counterpart, the electricity
SMALL TEST HOUSES PROTECTED BY MEANS OF PLEOT
used by PLEOT must be applied constantly. Yet
the electricity consumed is normally only a few
milliampere (mA), and is insignifi cant in relation to
the benefi ts offered: “The combination of a pulsing
pattern and a very low electric current does not lead
to high energy consumption,” highlights Project
Coordinator Dr Andreas Treu. Ultimately, the
advantages of using PLEOT over the alternatives
demonstrate superior functionality and
environmental awareness compared to replacing
wood structures over time or using chemical
alternatives. Treu asserts that PLEOT is in line
with his vision of future wood use: “A sustainable
future for wood products should include
renewable, sustainable and environmentallyfriendly
technologies to protect wood”.
THE FUTURE POTENTIAL
The future potential of the wood protection
systems offered by PLEOT is evident. The
technology shows defi nite potential, and the
restrictions of the process will become apparent
during the developmental phase. A fi eld test
is already underway in Telemark, Norway. The
PLEOT technique is being applied to the wood on a
post offi ce façade and the researchers expect less
bacterial and fungal growth. Finally, researchers
want to turn their attention to following the
performance of the process in example projects
such as houses and old buildings, depending on
interest from architects and engineers.
As wood preservation becomes an issue not
only for owners but for the environment, the
work carried out by the Norwegian Forest and
Landscape Institute shows alternative methods
that have great promise as an eco-friendly
solution. Successful tests, a promising range
of applications and a potential to become a
widespread, conventional technique underlines
the fact that the development of the technology
demonstrates research with real merit.