Market acceptance of carbon-based preservative-treated wood is limited by poor performance in ground contact. This is likely attributable to the presence of microorganisms that detoxify the preservatives. The present research has two aims: first, to initiate a new soil bed test to evaluate new modified carbon-based preservatives for their performance in ground contact, and second, to characterize the microorganisms associated with the depletion of carbon-based preservatives in this test using DNA-based community analysis methods. A soil bed test has been initiated and results are expected in 2015/16.
