HPLC Assay of the Anti-Stain Chemical TCMTB Applied to Lumber Surfaces

Abstract

The compound 2-thiocyanomethylthiobenzthiazole (TCMTB) has been shown to possess useful antifungal activity. TCMTB is registered for use and is a potential replacement for the chlorinated phenols on surface-treated lumber. The ability to perform surface assay of TCMTB will be useful in any industrial quality-control program of treatment. For the HPLC assay of TCMTB, the calibration curve relating instrument response to solution concentration is linear over the range 0.05 µg to 300 µg. The extraction efficiency of recovering TCMTB from the wood surface ranges from 75.2 to 110.9%, but it does not depend on the concentration or the time after application. The extraction precision is 102.6% ± 3.33% relative standard deviation for a single experimental application of 20.20 µg replicated 10 times. The HPLC method for assay of TCMTB is compatible with the one for chlorinated phenols.