Ionic Liquid Pretreatment Enhances Mildew Resistance in Bamboo

Abstract

Bamboo's susceptibility to mildew leads to contamination and economic losses, underscoring the need for effective prevention methods. This study investigated the impregnation of bamboo with ionic liquids, specifically optimizing the pressurized process of dodecylpyridinium chloride, while evaluating treatment effectiveness and leaching resistance. Techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV) were employed to analyze the distribution and bonding of dodecylpyridinium chloride within the bamboo. The optimized impregnation parameters were determined to be a concentration of 6.88 mg/mL, a duration of 98 min, and a pressure of 0.61 MPa. Treated bamboo exhibited excellent antibacterial properties and leaching resistance, achieving 100% efficacy against bamboo mildew. Furthermore, after 14 days of soaking, the retention of dodecylpyridinium chloride decreased by only 27.3%. This study highlights a sustainable method for mildew prevention, which is crucial for enhancing the durability and utility of bamboo products.