Wood preservative production and waste management

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Canada is one of the countries with the richest forest resources. Wood products are natural and renewable, however, without proper treatment, wood products, particularly for outdoor applications such as utility poles, railway ties and construction materials, are easily destroyed by high moisture, insects and fungi. To extend the service life of these wood products, wood preservatives must be applied to protect the wood products from bio-deterioration. The most common approach for wood preserving is a pressure treatment process, in which chemicals are forced to penetrate the cellular structure of the wood, forming a barrier against weathering and microorganism. Pentachlorophenol is an excellent wood preservative, showing strong efficacy against bio-deterioration. However, the quality of technical pentachlorophenol in the market varies significantly, and low-quality pentachlorophenol might contain high levels of contaminants, some of which are carcinogenic. Stella-Jones Inc., a leading North American manufacturer of treated wood products, has 14 treating facilities and more than 550 employees in Canada. It has been very active in the research and development to pursue greener wood treatment processes and minimise the impact of the manufacturing on the environment. This project will support the company to produce high-quality pentachlorophenol (minimum contaminants) on its own instead of importation, along with addressing the environmental issues associated with pentachlorophenol, such as unpleasant odor as well as residual pentachlorophenol in out of service wood products. Currently, the health, environmental and waste issues related to wood preservatives are faced by all wood preservation companies. The anticipated research outcomes will set Stella-Jones as a good example of a socially and environmentally responsible enterprise for the whole industry. Also, will position Canada as a leader in the world regarding sustainable utilization of wood resource as well as mindful environment protection.