The chemistry and kinetic behavior of Cu-Cr-As/B wood preservatives. I. Fixation of chromium on wood

The kinetic behavior of CrO₃ in its reaction with wood has been elucidated. Various reactions take place between CrO₃ and the lignin and cellulose in wood. CrO₃ reacts with cellulose in a two-step reaction: the first step is an adsorption of Cr^VI onto the cellulose to form Cr^VI/cellulose activated complexes. The second step is a Cr^VI → Cr^III reduction taking place on the cellulose surface. The Cr^III formed is only physically adsorbed to the cellulose or very weakly bound as small amounts of Cr^III can be released into the reaction medium. The Cr^VI adsorbed by cellulose appears mainly to be reduced to Cr^III. The reaction of Cr^VI with lignin has been shown to be the composition of the three successive reaction of Cr₂O₇^2?, HCrO₄^?, and CrO₄^2? with the guaiacyl units of lignin. Insoluble and stable Cr^VI/lignin complexes in which chromium maintains its hexavalent oxidation state are formed. Rate constants and energies of activation for all the reactions have been determined. The fixation of CrO₃-derived compounds on wood has been explained as the combination of the various reactions investigated. The results indicate that 60% of Cr is fixed irreversibly to the lignin of wood as Cr^VI and 40% is weakly bound, probably just precipitated, on the cellulose surface as Cr^III of which small amounts can be released in a water medium. The complex Cr^VI and Cr^III species forming complexes with the guaiacyl units have been identified.