IS 2753 (Part 2) : 2000Methods for estimation of preservatives in treated timber and in treating solutions, Part 2: Determination of copper (in copper organic preservative salt) and pentachlorophenol
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IS 2753:2000 (Part 2) is the Indian Standard (BIS) for methods for estimation of preservatives in treated timber and in treating solutions, part 2: determination of copper (in copper organic preservative salt) and pentachlorophenol. This standard specifies the chemical analysis methods for quantitatively estimating the concentration of copper (in copper organic preservatives) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in both treated timber and treating solutions. It is crucial for ensuring that wood preservation treatments meet the required retention limits to protect against decay and insect attacks.
Methods for estimation of preservatives in treated timber and in treating solutions, Part 2: Determination of copper (in copper organic preservative salt) and pentachlorophenol
AWPA A2-21American Wood Protection Association (AWPA), USA
HighCurrent
Standard Methods for Analysis of Waterborne Preservatives and Fire-Retardant Formulations
Covers titrimetric, colorimetric, and gravimetric methods for Copper, Arsenic, Chromium, Zinc, and Boron.
AWPA A3-21American Wood Protection Association (AWPA), USA
HighCurrent
Standard Methods for Analysis of Preservatives and Fire-Retardant Formulations by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy or Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy
Provides instrumental methods (AAS/ICP) for elements covered in IS 2753, often referenced as alternatives.
AWPA A6-13American Wood Protection Association (AWPA), USA
HighCurrent
Method for the Determination of Oil-Type Preservatives and Water in Wood
Directly corresponds to the methods for determining creosote and water content in treated wood.
EN 16738:2016European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
MediumCurrent
Durability of wood and wood-based products - Quantitative analysis of copper, chromium and arsenic-based wood preservatives in treated wood - Laboratory method
Focuses specifically on modern instrumental analysis of Cu, Cr, and As in treated wood, overlapping with a key part of the IS code.
Key Differences
≠IS 2753 is predominantly based on classical wet chemistry methods (e.g., iodometric titration), while modern international standards like AWPA A3 and EN 16738 primarily specify or prefer instrumental methods like AAS, ICP, and XRF for higher precision and speed.
≠The IS code consolidates methods for waterborne and oil-borne preservatives into a single document. In contrast, the AWPA system is modular, with separate standards for waterborne analysis (A2), oil-borne analysis (A6), and specific instrumental techniques (A3, A11).
≠International standards like EN 16738 include modern sample preparation techniques such as microwave-assisted acid digestion, which is faster and uses fewer reagents than the open-vessel hot plate digestion detailed in IS 2753.
≠The AWPA standards provide more detailed procedures and stricter quality control requirements, such as specifying the precision and bias of methods, which are not as rigorously defined in IS 2753:2000.
Key Similarities
≈The fundamental purpose of IS 2753 and its international counterparts is identical: to provide standardized methods for the quantitative determination of preservative chemicals in treating solutions and treated wood for quality assurance.
≈All standards are built on the same core chemical principles. For example, the titration of boron as boric acid in the presence of mannitol is a universally accepted method present in both IS 2753 and AWPA A2.
≈The initial sample preparation concept for treated wood is consistent across standards, requiring digestion or ashing of the wood matrix using strong oxidizing acids to bring inorganic elements into an aqueous solution for analysis.
≈For oil-borne preservatives, both IS 2753 and AWPA A6 specify the use of the Dean and Stark apparatus for determining water content via azeotropic distillation, demonstrating a shared methodology for this specific test.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Primary Analytical Technique for Metals
Primarily classical wet chemistry (titration, colorimetry), with AAS as an alternative.
Primarily instrumental (AAS, ICP-OES), with wet chemistry as alternative or referee methods.
AWPA A3 / EN 16738
Reducing Agent for Arsenic Titration
Hydrazine sulphate (to reduce As(V) before titration).
Sodium hypophosphite or hydrazine sulfate (depending on the specific AWPA method).
AWPA A2
Indicator for Boron Titration
Phenolphthalein.
Phenolphthalein or bromocresol purple.
AWPA A2
Sample Digestion for CCA analysis
Open vessel digestion using a mixture of Sulphuric, Nitric, and Perchloric acids.
Allows modern methods like closed-vessel microwave digestion with Nitric acid.
EN 16738
Analytical Sample Weight (Wood)
A 'suitable quantity' of oven-dry ground wood.
Specifies a nominal weight, e.g., 'approximately 2 g of wood, weighed to the nearest 0.001 g'.
AWPA A7 (Wet Ashing)
Titrant Concentration for Copper
Specifies 0.01 N sodium thiosulphate.
Specifies 0.1 N or 0.01 N sodium thiosulfate, allowing flexibility based on expected copper concentration.
AWPA A2
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values3
Quick Reference Values
Typical timber sample mass for extraction5 g
Normality of standard sodium thiosulphate solution0.1 N
Spectrophotometric absorption wavelength for PCP430 nm to 450 nm
Key Formulas
Copper, percent by mass = (V × N × 0.06354 × 100) / M (where V is volume of standard sodium thiosulphate, N is normality, M is mass of sample)
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Quality of Reagents
Clause 5 - Determination of Copper in Copper Organic Preservative Salts
Clause 6 - Determination of Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
What method is used to determine copper content in the treated timber?+
The standard specifies an iodometric titration method where liberated iodine is titrated against standard sodium thiosulphate.
How is Pentachlorophenol (PCP) quantified?+
PCP is extracted using suitable organic solvents and quantified using a spectrophotometric method by comparing sample absorbance against a standard calibration curve.
Why test for these specific preservatives?+
Copper organics and PCP are heavy-duty preservatives used to prevent fungal decay and termite attacks; testing ensures the timber has absorbed the minimum protective threshold.