Distribution of inorganic elements in wood impregnated with preservative solutions II. Effect of anatomical characteristics on microdistribution of preservatives in Cryptomeria japonica sapwood

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) sapwood specimens were impregnated by vacuum treatment with CuAz or CCA preservatives and the distribution of copper (Cu), chrome (Cr) and arsenic (As) elements in the treated wood was examined by SEM-EDXA (Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis). For sapwood treated with CuAz, the Cu element was more heavily distributed in latewood tracheids near the growth ring boundary, in axial parenchyma cells (resin cells) and in ray parenchyma cells. Sapwood treated with CCA seemed to have the same distribution as sapwood treated with CuAz. However, occasionally only Cr was concentrated in parts of parenchyma cells. In axial parenchyma cells preservatives were distributed in many crystalline deposits. This may indicate significant interactions between preservatives and chemical constituents of the parenchyma cells.