Application of Wood Vinegar for Antifungal Growth on Natural Rubber Sheet

Abstract

Wood vinegar, a product of burning wood under airless conditions, is well known as an all- purpose natural chemical and can be used in the agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Because of its acidity and ability to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, there is considerable interest in its use as an anti-fungal agent for rubber sheet products. The objective of this research was to study the characteristics and effects of bamboo, rubber, and eucalyptus vinegars on natural rubber products. Volatile organic compounds in the vinegars were detected by
GC-MS. The results showed that the main chemical components were organic acids such as acetic acid, propanoic acid and butanoic acid, and phenolic components such as phenol and cresol, the types and amounts of which varied depending on the wood species. There were many similarities between the components of bamboo vinegar and those of rubber and eucalyptus vinegar. The experiments to do with the anti-microbial properties of the vinegars were conducted by introducing various concentrations of wood vinegars at 10%, 20%, and 30% by volume.
The results showed that the bamboo, rubber, and eucalypt vinegars had inhibitory effects on the growth of fungi. The efficiencies of the inhibitory effects on the growth of the fungi of all three wood vinegars were rated at over 90% and were based on the extent of inhibition zone at the same concentration of wood vinegar.