Performance Characteristics 

of Borate Fatty Acid 

Formulations as Mold 

Inhibitors 

Robert D. Coleman

Vina W. Yang

Carol A. Clausen

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Forest

Products

Laboratory

Research

Paper

FPL–RP–673
March 2013

Coleman, Robert D.; Yang, Vina W.; Clausen, Carol A. 2013. Performance characteristics of borate fatty acid formulations as mold inhibitors. 

Research Paper FPL-RP-673. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 6 p.

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Abstract 

The combination of boric acid (BA) or disodium octaborate 

tetrahydrate (DOT) and a fatty acid (FA) such as heptanoic, 

octanoic, and nonanoic acids (C7–C9) is an effective treatment solution for protecting wood structures against mold. 

BA or DOT alone have substantial potency against insects 

and decay fungi, but have negligible or no mold inhibitor 

activity. However, boric acid or DOT combined with a fatty 

acid either as a dip or vacuum treatment appears to act synergistically to inhibit mold growth. Southern Pine vacuumtreated with BA (or DOT)/FA appears to retain much or 

all of its inhibitor properties after extensive leaching with 

water. Boric acid/FA and DOT/FA formulations applied 

as dip solutions had similar efficacy against the test fungi, 

but greater efficacy as a mold inhibitor was achieved when 

DOT was formulated with C7, C8, or C9 FA and used as a 

vacuum treatment.

Keywords: fatty acid, boric acid, disodium octaborate 

tetrahydrate, mold fungi, fungicide

Acknowledgment

The information contained in this paper is based upon a 

USDA SBIR Phase II award to Summerdale, Inc., supported 

by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, “Organic Acid Formulations for 

Wood Protection: Inhibition of Mold and Decay Fungi.”

Contents

Introduction........................................................................ 1

Materials and Methods....................................................... 1

 Chemicals....................................................................... 1

 Treatment ....................................................................... 1

 Mold and Sapstain Fungi and Inoculum Preparation..... 1

 Chemical Leaching ........................................................ 2

 Mold and Sapstain Test.................................................. 2

Results................................................................................ 2

Discussion and Conclusions .............................................. 2

References.......................................................................... 3

Tables................................................................................. 4
Performance Characteristics of Borate 

Fatty Acid Formulations as Mold Inhibitors

Robert D. Coleman, President

Summerdale, Inc., Verona, Wisconsin

Vina W. Yang, Microbiologist

Carol A. Clausen, Supervisory Research Microbiologist

Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin

Introduction

Current insecticides and fungicides used to protect wood 

from biodeterioration are effective but may be toxic and 

unsuitable for use in modern homes, especially those sealed 

and insulated to reduce the exchange of hot or cold air from 

the outside. Another concern to human health in modern 

homes is exposure to mold (Quarles 2008). Spores from 

mold fungi can be particularly problematic, not only as human and animal allergens, but also because of their recalcitrance to chemical remediation. Among the three primary 

wood infestations (termite attack, mold, and decay fungi), 

spores from mold fungi appear to be the most resistant to 

chemical treatments; hence, mold spores are more difficult 

to suppress and control (Clausen and Yang 2004).

Earlier work revealed that aliphatic mono-carboxyl compounds such as fatty acids are active against a broad spectrum of fungal pathogens (Kabara and others 1972; Walters 

and others 2004). Lauric acid, a saturated C12 fatty acid 

(Kabara and others 1972), and linoleic and linolenic acids, 

unsaturated C18 fatty acids (Walters and others 2004), had 

antifungal properties.

Lower molecular weight aliphatic, saturated fatty acids, 

such as pentanoic, hexanoic, heptanoic, octanoic, nonanoic, 

and decanoic acids (C5–C10, respectively) have also been 

studied for control of numerous fungi (Coleman 2010a,b; 

2011) including mold and decay fungi (Schmidt 1982; Coleman and Clausen 2009; Clausen and others 2010; Coleman 

and others 2010a,b). Formulations, at various application 

rates, have been tested with and without selected adjuvants 

such as organic acids (L-lactic and glycolic acid). Although 

exclusive use of organic acids as broad-spectrum biocides 

has not been effective for long-term control of mold and 

other fungi, their potential as synergists with certain fatty 

acids may result in the development of broad-spectrum, environmentally compatible fungicides.

This study evaluated the efficacy of multifunctional fatty 

acid/boric acid (or disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT)) 

combinations against common mold species on wood. Antimicrobial formulations having multiple mechanisms of 

action with greater formulation potency and improved 

retention characteristics would be considerably more 

efficacious. The fatty acid/boric acid (or DOT) combination 

may provide cost effective and safe performance required by 

the construction industry and the public’s environmental and 

health concerns. The research was conducted under a joint 

venture agreement between Summerdale, Inc., and Forest 

Products Laboratory (FPL).

Materials and Methods

Chemicals

Various combinations of the following chemicals were 

evaluated: Boric acid and DOT (U.S. Borax, Inc., RioTinto 

Minerals, Greenwood Village, CO, USA), octanoic acid, 

nonanoic acid and capric acid (Emery Oleochemicals, Cincinnati, OH, USA), hexanoic acid (Acros Organics, Geel, 

Belgium), heptanoic acid (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, 

USA), glycerol (U.S. Glycerin, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) , L 

(+) lactic acid (Purac FCC, Lincolnshire, IL, USA) , mineral oil (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA, USA), and PE 

1198LA, a phosphate ester emulsifier (Huntsman Chemical, 

The Woodlands, TX, USA).

Treatment

Kiln-dried Southern Pine (SP) specimens (7 by 20 mm cross 

section by 7 cm long) were soaked overnight in deionized 

(DI) water to elevate moisture content prior to dip or vacuum treatment. Groups of specimens were dip-treated for 

~30 s in each chemical formulation and held overnight in a 

closed container according to the ASTM 

standard test method D4445-10 (ASTM 2010) or ASTM 

D3273-12 (ASTM 2012) prior to exposure to test fungi. 

Vacuum treatments were conducted according to a modification of AWPA T1-07 (2007). Briefly, specimens were 

submerged in treatment solution and held under vacuum 

(–172 kPa) for 70 min. Vacuum-treated specimens were 

air-dried and conditioned at 27° C and 70% RH to a 

constant weight before exposing them to test fungi.

Mold and Sapstain Fungi and Inoculum 

Preparation

Mold fungi, Aspergillus niger 2.242, Penicillium chrysogenum PH02, Alternaria alternata, and Trichoderma 

atroviride ATCC 20476, were grown on 2% malt agar and 

individual spore suspensions prepared by washing the 

surface of a 2-wk-old culture of each fungus with 10 mL 
Research Paper FPL–RP–673

2

of sterile DI water according to ASTM standard D4445-

10 (ASTM 2010). Spore suspensions were transferred to a 

spray bottle and diluted to 100 mL with DI water to yield 

approximately 107 spores mL-1. The spray bottle was adjusted to deliver 1 mL inoculum/spray. The sapstain fungus, 

Aureobasidium pullulans, was grown on 2% potato dextrose 

agar and an individual spore suspension was prepared from 

a 2-wk-old culture according to ASTM D4445-10.

Chemical Leaching

Leaching procedures were similar to AWPA E11-06 standard 

method (AWPA 2009). After conditioning, treated specimens were placed into a 500-mL glass container, submerged 

in 100 mL of DI water, and subjected to mild agitation for 

a total of 14 days, and with a complete water change after 

6 h, and at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days. Leached and 

unleached specimens were exposed to mold and sapstain 

testing.

Mold and Sapstain Test 

Twelve random replicate treated specimens were arranged 

over four layers of blotting paper saturated with 30-mL DI 

water and a polyethylene mesh spacer in sterile disposable 

Petri dishes (150 by 25 mm) (B-D Falcon, Los Angeles, CA, 

USA). Untreated specimens dipped in DI water served as 

controls. Specimens were sprayed with 1 mL of individual 

mold or sapstain spore inoculum, sealed in polyethylene 

bags to prevent drying, and incubated at 27 °C and 70% RH 

for 8 to 12 wk.

Results 

Certain fatty acids and boric acid (or DOT), in selected 

combinations, appear to be more effective as mold inhibitors than the fatty acid alone. Since mold inhibition of 

leached SP matched that of unleached SP, sufficient boric 

acid (DOT)/FA appeared to be retained in vacuum-treated, 

leached SP. The efficacy of DOT as a means to improve 

mold-inhibiting activity of an octanoic acid (C8) formulation is shown in Table 1. Specifically, DOT at two rates 

(0.25%, 2.00%, g/v) in aqueous solutions were compared to 

water alone as the carrier solution for the C8 formulation. 

Although both DOT carrier solutions alone (treatments 4, 5) 

had an absence of mold protection, DOT combined with the 

C8 formulation (treatments 2, 3) improved mold-inhibiting 

activity slightly over using water as the carrier.

Boric acid (0.25%, g/v) also appeared to be synergistic with 

fatty acids in dip treatments (Table 2). Boric acid alone 

(treatment 5) was ineffective as a mold inhibitor when compared to water control (treatment 6). However, when the boric acid solution was compared to water as the carrier solution and amended with either a C8 or C9 formulation, boric 

acid had increased efficacy against test fungi. This finding 

suggested that the increase in efficacy was synergistic rather 

than additive. Protection from mold growth after exposure 

to a C8- or C9-based treatment without boric acid was essentially equivalent. Fatty acid (C8/C10) mold-inhibiting 

formulations with and without DOT were compared at two 

application rates (3%, 12%, v/v). Dip treatments inclusive of 

DOT (treatments 3, 4) were more effective than treatments 

without DOT at both rates (Table 3).

Vacuum treatments of SP using fatty-acid-based boric acid 

formulations were effective at all three application rates 

(6%, 12%, and 18%, v/v). This was true for both C9 and 

C8/C10 where nearly complete control of mold growth was 

observed at 4, 8, and 12 wk (Table 4).

Mold test results for specimens that were vacuum-treated 

with fatty acids and boric acid (or DOT), followed by water leaching, suggested that certain fatty acid species were 

retained in SP and performed better as mold inhibitors than 

other species (Table 5). In particular, C8 (treatments 3, 8) 

and C9 (treatments 4, 9) were more effective. Overall, DOTfatty acids were more efficacious than formulations containing boric acid. An absence of mold growth was evident at 

4–12 wk for DOT/C7 – C9 (treatments 7–9).

Table 6 revealed inhibition of mold growth after dip applications with the same formulations and rate tested in vacuum 

treatments (Table 5). Overall dip treatments, including boric 

acid and DOT, had similar levels of mold inhibition. However, C7 formulations (treatments 2, 7) were more effective 

and resulted in control of mold growth through 12 wk. The 

other fatty acid species (C6, C8, C9, C8/C10) reduced mold 

by more than 90% at 4 and 8 wk; quite possibly, these fatty 

acid formulations could be reformulated to match the fungicide activity of C7.

To investigate fatty acid/borate inhibition of sapstain 

(Table 7), a C8/C10-based preparation was supplemented 

with DOT at various concentrations (2%, 4% and 6%, g/v). 

At 12%, v/v, all formulations (treatments 1–4) decreased 

growth of the sapstain fungus compared to the control (treatment 5). Formulations containing 4% and 6% DOT (treatments 3–4) completely inhibited sapstain at 12 wk.

Discussion and Conclusions

DOT is used worldwide for treating wood (Lloyd and 

Manning 1995). In the United States, Australia, and South 

Africa, borates such as DOT are commonly used for treating timber-framed constructions. This natural mineral has a 

record of human and aquatic safety, is very inexpensive, and 

does not corrode metal (Schultz and Nicholas 2003). DOT 

is relatively soluble in water and thus has good penetration 

of all major structural lumber species in the United States. 

Moreover, DOT treatments are compliant with major building codes and in general are noncorrosive to most metal 

nails, screws and fasteners. 

Boric acid and DOT leaching can occur with exposure to 

water, thus restricting the bulk of current treatments of 
Performance Characteristics of Borate Fatty Acid Formulations as Mold Inhibitors

3

boron compounds to indoor construction. As a result, treated 

lumber exposed to rainfall (leaching conditions) over time 

loses substantial amounts of boric acid or DOT, reducing 

its effectiveness as a preservative. Although DOT has demonstrated capability in combating insects and decay fungi 

(Drysdale 1994), it has very limited ability to inhibit mold 

(Barnes and others 1989). Five percent DOT was unable to 

substantially inhibit mold fungi (Clausen and Yang 2003). 

Current and past efforts to fix boric acid and DOT within 

the wood structure often result in a loss of activity. 

The fatty acid/boric acid (DOT) combination, upon extensive leaching, was substantially retained in treated wood. 

Sufficient amounts of fatty acid/ boric acid (DOT), as active ingredients for control of wood mold, remain in treated 

wood after repeated and prolonged exposure to water. 

Leached wood containing the fatty acid/boric acid (or DOT) 

combination had substantially the same fungicidal activity 

as an unleached wood sample suggesting that the formulation is suitable for limited UC2 and UC3A exposure. Finally, the fatty acid/boric acid (DOT) combinations exhibited 

synergistic efficacy against test fungi. 

References

ASTM. 2012. Standard test method for resistance to growth 

of mold on the surface of interior coatings in an environmental chamber. ASTM D3273-12. West Conshohocken, 

PA: American Society for Testing Materials. Vol. 06.01. 

pp. 411–413. 

ASTM. 2010. Standard test method for fungicides for controlling sapstain and mold on unseasoned lumber (Laboratory Method). D4445–10. In: Annual Book of Standards, 

Vol. 4.10., West Conshohocken, PA: American Society for 

Testing Materials. pp. 496–500. 

AWPA. 2007. Standard AWPA T1-07. Processing and treatment standard (pressure treatment methodology). Birmingham, AL: American Wood Protection Association.

AWPA. 2009. Standard method of determining the leachability of wood preservatives. E11-06. In: AWPA Book of 

Standards, Birmingham, AL: American Wood Protection 

Association. pp. 389–391. 

Barnes H.M., Amburgey, T.L., Williams, L.H., Morrell, J.J.

1989. Borates as wood preserving compounds: The status of 

research in the United States. IRG/WP/3542. International 

Research Group on Wood Preservation, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Clausen, C.A., Yang, V.W. 2003. Mold inhibition on unseasoned southern pine. IRG/WP 03–10465. Stockholm, Sweden: International Research Group on Wood Preservation.

Clausen, C.A., Yang, V.W. 2004. Multicomponent biocide 

systems protect wood from decay fungi, mold fungi, and 

termites for interior applications. IRG/WP 04-30333. 

Stockholm, Sweden: International Research group on Wood 

Protection. 

Clausen, C.A., Coleman, R.D. Yang, V.W. 2010. Fatty acid 

formulations for wood protection. Forest Products Journal. 

60: 301–304.

Coleman, R.D. 2010a. Coleman Fungicide Compositions. 

U.S. Patent 7,741,244.

Coleman, R.D. 2010b. Pesticide Compositions and Methods 

for Their Use. U.S. Patent 7,820,594.

Coleman, R.D. Clausen, C.A. 2009. Multi-factorial antimicrobial wood protectants. IRG/WP 08-30484. Stockholm, 

Sweden: International Research Group on Wood Protection. 

Coleman, R.D., Yang, V.W., Woodward, B., Lebow, P., 

Clausen, C.A. 2011. Efficacy of fatty acid chemistry: Candidate mold and decay fungicides. Proceedings of American 

Wood Protection Association, Birmingham, AL. 

106: 287–297. 

Drysdale, J.A. 1994. Boron treatments for the preservation 

of wood–A review of efficacy data for fungi and termites. 

IRG/WP 94-30037. Stockholm, Sweden: International Research Group on Wood Preservation. 

Kabara, J.J., Sweiczkowski, D.M., Conly, A.J., Truant, J.P. 

1972. Fatty acids and derivatives as antimicrobial agents. 

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2(1): 23–28. 

Lloyd, J.D., Manning, M.J. 1995. Leaching of boron wood 

preservatives–a reappraisal. Proceedings of the British 

Wood Preserving and Damp Proofing Association. 7p.

Quarles, S.L. 2008. Mold growth in structures: an overview. In: Development of commercial wood preservatives. 

Schultz, T.P., Militz, H., Freeman, M., Goodell, B. and D.D. 

Nicholas (Eds.) American Chemical Society, Washington, 

D.C. pp. 170–181. 

Schmidt, E.L. 1982. Influence of aliphatic fatty acids on 

spore germination of wood decay fungi. IRG/WP/2224. 

International Research Group on Wood Preservation, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Schultz, T.P., Nicholas, D.D. 2003. A brief overview of nonarsenical wood preservative systems. Chapter 26. In: Wood 

deterioration and preservation; Advances in our changing 

world. Goodell, B., Nicholas, D.D. and T.P Schultz (Eds.), 

American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C. pp. 420–432.

Walters, D., Raynor, L., Mitchell, A., Walker, R., Walker, K. 

2004. Antifungal activities of four fatty acids against plant 

pathogenic fungi. Mycopathologia 157: 87–90.
Research Paper FPL–RP–673

4

Table 1. Mold inhibition in SP dip-treated with disodium octaborate 

tetrahydrate and C8 fatty acid 

Treatment 

group Formulation 

Concentration 

(%) Carrier 

Ratinga

(12 wk) 

FPLSDb

P@0.05

1 C8c 6.00 Water 0.83 a 

2 C8 6.00 DOT (0.25%) 0.58 a 

3 C8 6.00 DOT (0.25%) 0 a 

4 DOT 0.25 Water 3.40 b 

5 DOT 2.00 Water 3.33 b 

6 Control — Water 3.00 b 

a

Average mold growth based on a rating system where 0 is no growth and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 

represent 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% growth, respectively. 

b

FPLSD: Fisher’s protected least significant difference; same letters are not significant at 

P < 0.05. 

c

50% C8, 20% phosphate ester (PE) 1198, 10% L-lactic acid, 20% mineral oil. 

Table 2. Mold inhibition on SP dip-treated with boric acid and C8 or C9 fatty 

acids 

Treatment 

group Formulation 

Concentration 

(%) Carrier 

Ratinga

(12 wk) 

FPLSDb

P@0.05 

1 C8c 6.00 Water 0.90 b 

2 C8 6.00 Boric acid (0.25%) 0.33 b 

3 C9 d

 6.00 Water 0.80 b 

4 C9 6.00 Boric acid (0.25%) 0.33 b 

5 Boric acid 0.25 Water 3.91 a 

6 Control — Water 3.50 a 

a

Average mold growth based on a rating system where 0 is no growth and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent 

20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% growth, respectively. 

b

FPLSD: Fisher’s protected least significant difference; same letters are not significant at P < 0.05. c

50% C8, 20% phosphate ester (PE) 1198, 10% L-lactic acid, 20% mineral oil. d

50% C8, 20% PE 1198, 10% L-lactic acid, 20% mineral oil.

Table 3. Mold inhibition of SP dip-treated with 

C8/C10-based formulations with and without DOT 

Treatment 

group

Aqueous

formulation 

Concentration

(% v/v) 

Ratinga

(12 wk) 

1 C8/C10b 3.0 1.33 

2 C8/C10 12.0 0.33 

3 C8/C10 plus DOTc

 3.0 0.58 

4 C8/C10 plus DOT 12.0 0.25 

5 Control, water — 2.00 a

Average mold growth based on a rating system where 0 is no 

growth and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 

100% growth, respectively. 

b

50% C8/C10, 20% phosphate ester (PE) 1198LA, 30% mineral oil.

c

50% C8/C10, 20% PE 1198LA, 10% mineral oil, 4% DOT, 16% 

glycerol. 
Performance Characteristics of Borate Fatty Acid Formulations as Mold Inhibitors

5

Table 4. Mold inhibition of SP vacuum-treated with 

varying concentrations of C9 or C8/C10-boric acid 

formulations

Treatment 

group Formulation 

Concentration 

(% v/v) 

Mold ratingb

 

4 wk 8 wk 12 wk

1 C9c 6.0 0 0 0 

2 C9 12.0 0 0 0 

3 C9 18.0 0 0 0 

4 C8/C10d

 6.0 0 0 0 

5 C8/C10 12.0 0 0 0.08

6 C8/C10 18.0 0 0 0 

7 Control, water — 3.00 3.75 3.92

a

Vacuum treatment at ‒172 kPa for 70 min. b

Average mold growth based on a rating system where 0 is no growth 

and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% 

growth, respectively. 

c

50% C9, 20% phosphate ester (PE) 1198LA, 6% boric acid, 

24% glycerol. 

d

50% C8/C10, 20% PE 1198LA, 6% boric acid, 24% glycerol. 

Table 5. Fatty acids + boric acid (or DOT) as mold inhibitors on SP vacuum-treateda and then leached

in water, replicate trials A and B 

Treatment 

group 

Aqueous formulation 

(18% v/v) 

Mold ratingb

4 wk 8 wk 12 wk 

Trial Ac Trial Bc Avg Trial A Trial B Avg Trial A Trial B Avg 

1 50% C6d0.83 0.16 0.48 3.00 0.66 1.83 3.66 2.60 3.13 

2 50% C7d0.16 0 0.08 0.50 0 0.25 2.33 0.16 1.25 

3 50% C8d

0 0.16 0.08 0 0.16 0.08 1.00 1.00 1.00 

4 50% C9d

0 0 0 0 0 0 0.16 0.50 0.33 

5 50% C8/C10d

0.16 0 0.08 0.66 0.16 0.41 1.33 1.66 1.49 

6 50% C6e0.16 0 0.08 0.16 0 0.08 1.33 1.33 1.33 

7 50% C7e

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

8 50% C8e

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

9 50% C9e

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

10 50% C8/C10e0 0 0 0 0 0 0.32 0 0.16 

11 Control, water 1.00 1.16 1.08 2.50 2.00 2.25 2.66 2.50 2.61 a Vacuum treatments at ‒172 kPa for 70 min. b Average mold growth based on a rating system where 0 is no growth and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 

100% growth, respectively. 

c n = 12. d

 Additional formulation components 20% phosphate ester (PE) 1198LA, 6% boric acid, 24% glycerol. e

 Additional formulation components 20% phosphate ester (PE) 1198LA, 30% boric acid, 24% glycerol.
Research Paper FPL–RP–673

6

Table 6. Comparison of fatty acids combined with boric acid (or DOT) as mold inhibitor on dip-treated Southern Pine, 

replicate trials A and B 

Treatment 

group

Aqueous formulation 

(18% v/v) 

Mold ratinga

4 wk 8 wk 12 wk 

Trial Ab Trial Bb Avg Trial A Trial B Avg Trial A Trial B Avg 

1 50% C6c 0.33 0 0.16 0.50 0 0.25 0.32 0 0.16 

2 50% C7c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

3 50% C8c

 0.16 0 0.08 0.16 0 0.08 0.16 0 0.08 

4 50% C9c

 0.16 0 0.08 0.32 0 0.16 0.32 0.16 024 

5 50% C8/C10 c 0.66 0 0.33 0.66 0 0.33 1.00 0 0.50 

6 50% C6d

 0 0.16 0.08 0 0.32 0.16 0 0.32 0.16 

7 50% C7d 0 0 0 0 0.16 0.08 0 0 0 

8 50% C8d 0.16 0 0.08 0.16 016 0.16 1.00 0 0.50 

9 50% C9d

 0.16 0 0.08 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.33 0.16 0.24 

10 50% C68/C10d

 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.32 0.32 0.32 0.66 0.83 0.75 

11 Control, water 2.50 2.50 2.50 3.16 2.83 3.00 3.16 3.00 3.08 a

Average mold growth based on a rating system where 0 is no growth and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% growth, respectively. b n = 12. c

Additional formulation components: 20% phosphate ester (PE) 1198LA, 6% boric acid, 24% glycerol. d

Additional formulation components: 20% PE 1198LA, 6% DOT, 24% glycerol.

Table 7. Inhibition of Aureobasidium pullulans on SP dip-treated 

with C8/C10 fatty acid formulations with and without disodium 

octaborate tetrahydrate 

Treatment 

group

Aqueous

formulation 

Concentration

(% v/v) 

Ratinga

(12 wk) 

1 50% C8/C10, 20% phosphate ester 

(PE) 1198LA, 30% mineral oil 

12 0.25 

2 50% C8/C10, 20% PE 1198LA, 20% 

mineral oil, 2% DOT, 8% glycerol 

12 0.16 

3 50% C8/C10, 20% PE 1198LA, 10% 

mineral oil, 4% DOT, 16% glycerol

12 0 

4 50% C8/C10, 20% PE 1198LA, 6% 

DOT, 24% glycerol 

12 0 

5 Control, water — 2.25 a

Average mold growth based on a rating system where 0 is no growth and 1, 2, 3, 4, 

and 5 represent 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% growth, respectively.