Evaluation of the antifungal activity of treated Acacia saligna wood with paraloid B-72/TiO2 nanocomposites against the growth of Alternaria tenuissima, Trichoderma harzianum, and Fusarium culmorum

Abstract

Acacia saligna wood was impregnated with 5% and 10% concentrations of Paraloid B-72/TiO2 nanocomposites using a soaking technique and evaluated for their antifungal activity against the growth of three molds in vitro, namely, Alternaria tenuissima, Trichoderma harzianum, and Fusarium culmorum. The Titanium (Ti) element peak of 0.14% and 0.23%, was found in the A. saligna wood treated with Paraloid B-72/TiO2 nanocomposites at 5% and 10%, respectively. Consolidant polymer Paraloid B-72 mixed with TiO2 nanocomposites at 5% and 10% showed antifungal activity against the three studied molds, while the linear growth of the studied molds reached the maximum in the control and Paraloid B-72 treatments. The results concluded that using synthesized Paraloid B-72/TiO2 nanocomposite could be considered as a new agent in the wood preservation field by prevention of mold fungal growth over the wood surfaces.