The Use of Crop Residues for Board-making

Abstract

The current environmental pollution problems created by burning and dumping agricultural residues, together with concern for the conservation of future forest resources, have engendered interest in finding utilization outlets in building-board manufacture for the large amounts of crop residues that are produced annually. Experimental boards were made from corncobs, corn-stalks (Zea mays), peanut-hulls (Arachis hypogaed), sunflower seed-hulls (Helianthus annuus), and spent instant coffee-grounds (Coffea arabica). In general, most of the residues alone, and mixtures of either a wood waste and a crop residue or two different crop residues, produced composite boards having properties comparable with or better than those of boards made from conventional wood materials. However, boards made from spent coffee-grounds or sunflower seed-hulls can only be used as vertical, installed decorative items.The utilization of crop residues for the production of useful board products will not only provide an acceptable disposal method for those who produce the residues, but will also reduce pressures on future forest resources. In looking to the future, it seems clear that the reasons for improving the environment and for extending the future wood supply, will soon outweigh the objection to using crop residues for board production which involve high collecting and handling costs.