Microdistribution of some copper and zinc containing waterborne and organic solvent wood preservatives in spruce wood cell walls

The microdistribution of copper and zinc in the cell walls of spruce wood t reated with water borne copper chloride, ammoniacal copper octanoate, ammon iacal zinc octanoate and with copper carboxylates dissolved in an organic s olvent was studied using transmission electron microscopy with X-ray microa nalysis. The highest content of copper and zinc was measured in cell corner s and middle lamellae, that is in the constituents with the highest proport ions of lignin. The same feature was observed also in the case of copper ca rboxylates dissolved in white spirit. On the basis of these results it was presumed that, within wood, lignin functional groups are preferential adsor ption sites for transition metal ions irrespective of the carrier solvent.