Mould fungi can grow on virtually any substrate and are particularly common on cellulosic materials such as wood. Fungicides can limit the risk of mould attack, but increasing concerns about pesticide use have encouraged a search for more natural protection methods. Cinnamaldehyde is a promising antifungal candidate, but has not been fully effective. In this study, chitosan and cinnamaldehyde were used to prepare an emulsion to reduce the volatility of cinnamaldehyde, and the antimould performance of the emulsion-treated wood was evaluated. The ability of cinnamaldehyde chitosan emulsion was assessed for inhibiting mould growth as well as its effect on membrane function and hyphal morphology of Aspergillus niger. Cinnamaldehyde chitosan emulsion can reduce the amount of free cinnamaldehyde, thereby increasing the retention rate of cinnamaldehyde. The control ability of wood treated with 3.0:1.0 molar ratio of aldehyde to amino group in cinnamaldehyde chitosan emulsion against A. niger was 95.8%. Mould growth was limited in the presence of the emulsion. The treatment appeared to disrupt cell membrane function as evidenced by increased levels of extracellular proteins and nucleic acids. The results suggest that the cinnamaldehyde chitosan emulsion improved the stability of cinnamaldehyde in aqueous solution as well as effectively protected wood from mould.
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