Sorption of acetylated pine wood decayed by brown rot, white rot and soft rot: different fungi—different behaviours

Acetylated wood was exposed to decay by brown, white and soft rot in order to address the sorption behaviour of decayed wood. The sorption isotherms were analysed using the Hailwood–Horrobin model. It was found that the different types of decay exhibit different sorption properties. Brown rot decayed wood exhibits significantly lower hygroscopicity in both total, monomolecular and polymolecular sorption. Soft rot decayed wood followed the same pattern as the brown rot decayed wood; however, the reduction in hygroscopicity was not significant. White rot decayed wood showed a different behaviour, with increased hygroscopicity in total and polymolecular sorption and decreased hygroscopicity in monomolecular sorption.