Effect of Date Palm Cultivar, Particle Size, Panel Density and Hot Water Extraction on Particleboards Manufactured from Date Palm Fronds

Said Hegazy,Khaled Ahmed

doi:10.3390/agriculture5020267

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate some of the important physical and mechanical properties of particleboard panels manufactured from three different cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fronds, namely Saqui, Barhi and Sukkari. Experimental panels were manufactured from hot water extracted and non-extracted, and fine and coarse particles of the raw material under two target panel densities of 650 and 750 kg/m3. Bending properties and internal bond strength, along with dimensional stability in the form of thickness swelling, water absorption, and linear expansion of the samples was tested. Based on the findings of this work, panels manufactured from high density level and Saqie cultivar, as well as fine particles, had better performance for their mechanical properties. The effect of hot water-treatment had less robust mechanical and physical properties. It appears that date palm fronds are underutilized resources that have the potential to be used in the manufacture of value-added panel products.

Highlights

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a significant agricultural crop thought to have originated from the lands around the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia [1]
It is estimated that 100,000 tons/year of date palm fronds and 15,000 tons of leaves are created as a result of the pruning process in Saudi Arabia [4], and these estimations might be doubled in recent years
The aim of this study was collecting the basic data for using date palm frond residues to be used in particleboard manufacture in Saudi Arabia

Summary

Introduction

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a significant agricultural crop thought to have originated from the lands around the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia [1]. Once the date palms’ fruit are harvested, large quantities of date palm rachis and leaf waste accumulates every year in agricultural lands of different countries. It is estimated that 100,000 tons/year of date palm fronds and 15,000 tons of leaves are created as a result of the pruning process in Saudi Arabia [4], and these estimations might be doubled in recent years. Both pruning and cutting old trees produces a substantial amount of biomass that is currently not efficiently and effectively used in Saudi Arabia. One of these ideas is to use such natural fibers in natural fiber composites suitable for different industrial applications to meet the increasing demand in renewable and biodegradable materials [7]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion