Wood preservative production and waste management

加拿大是森林资源最丰富的国家之一。木材产品是天然的和可再生的，但是，如果没有适当的处理，木材产品，特别是户外应用的电线杆、铁路枕木和建筑材料，很容易被高湿度、昆虫和真菌破坏。为了延长这些木制品的使用寿命，必须使用木材防腐剂来保护木制品免受生物变质。木材保存最常见的方法是压力处理过程，其中化学物质被迫穿透木材的细胞结构，形成抵抗风化和微生物的屏障。五氯酚是一种优良的木材防腐剂，具有很强的抗生物变质作用。然而，市场上的技术五氯酚质量参差不齐，低质量的五氯酚可能含有高水平的污染物，其中一些是致癌物质。斯特拉-琼斯公司是北美领先的木制品处理制造商，在加拿大拥有14个处理设施和550多名员工。它一直非常积极地进行研究和开发，以追求更环保的木材处理工艺，并尽量减少制造对环境的影响。该项目将支持公司自行生产高质量的五氯酚（污染物最少），而不是进口，同时解决五氯酚相关的环境问题，如难闻的气味以及停用木制品中残留的五氯酚。目前，与木材防腐剂相关的健康、环境和废弃物问题是所有木材防腐企业都面临的问题。预期的研究成果将使斯特拉-琼斯成为整个行业对社会和环境负责的企业的好榜样。此外，将使加拿大在可持续利用木材资源和有意识的环境保护方面处于世界领先地位。

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.