
Theses and Dissertations
Advisor
Boyd-Shields, Gwendolyn
Committee Member
Khademibami, Laya
Committee Member
Franca, Tamara
Date of Degree
8-7-2025
Original embargo terms
Immediate Worldwide Access
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Sustainable Bioproducts
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Forest Resources
Department
Department of Sustainable Bioproducts
Abstract
Chitosan (CH), a linear polysaccharide biopolymer derived from chitin, is known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. However, its natural hydrophilicity limits its application as a wood preservative. This study explores the crosslinking of chitosan with citric acid (CA) to improve its stability and hydrophobicity, aiming to enhance its efficacy as a wood preservative. The study investigates fungal resistance against Gloeophyllum trabeum (brown-rot) and Trametes versicolor (white-rot) fungi using the AWPA E-10 soil block test for pine and gum samples vacuum-treated and dip-treated with CH-CA concentrations (CH 6%/CA 3%, CH 4%/CA 3%, CH 2%/CA 3%, and CH 1.5%/CA 3%). The AWPA E4 Water Repellency test assessed radial swelling in vacuum-treated pine samples with citric acid-crosslinked chitosan. This test also evaluated the treatment's effectiveness in repelling water, critical for preventing issues such as warping, decay, and fungal growth caused by prolonged moisture exposure.
Sponsorship (Optional)
U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities Accession #7004895
Recommended Citation
Barton, Samuel Jacob, "Fungal resistance of citric acid crosslinked chitosan treated wood" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 6614.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/6614