Abstract

The feasibility of preservative treatment by vacuum-pressure impregnation of small, medium and large diameter rattans was studied with a preservative solution of 6 boric acid and 0. 5 sodium pentachlorophenate (NaPCP) . The study revealed the possibility of achieving adequate dry salt retention (DSR) with a treatment schedule of 15 minute - initial vacuum of 56 cms of Hg, followed by a pressure of 150 Psi for 15 minutes and a final vacuum of 56 cms of Hg for 5 minutes (15'/15'/5') . The DSR value obtained was much higher than the specification (4kgm-3) of Indian Standard. This schedule being very short saves much energy and time. The high DSR achieved in the study advocates the need to reduce the solution concentration for the economy of chemical. The study also shows that green canes can be pressure treated. There was no significant difference in the treatability either between large-and medium-diameter species or between medium-and small-diameter species. However, the