Effect of some metal nanoparticles on the spectroscopy analysis of Paulownia wood exposed to white-rot fungus

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of impregnation with silver, copper, and zinc oxide aqueous nanofluids on the chemical properties of Paulownia fortunei decayed with the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor. Wood specimens with a dry density of 0.37 g/cm 3 were impregnated with a 400 ppm aqueous suspension of nanoparticles in a pressure vessel under 2.5 bars for 20 min. Specimens were inoculated with the fungus and incubated for 16 weeks at 26 °C and 65 % relative humidity in accordance with EN113. The spectra of specimens impregnated with nanosilver, nanocopper, or nanozinc-oxide showed no significant changes in their relative peak intensities of lignin and carbohydrates after exposure to T. versicolor . This can indicate fungicide effects of the metal nanoparticles on T. versicolor.