Abstract
Agricultural residues are materials generated in large quantities in Brazil and can accumulate to such extent as to cause environmental problems. Among agricultural residues, maize cob is one worthy of notice, and an alternative use for maize cob would be to produce particleboard panels in association with wood particles. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using maize cob for production of particleboard panels. The following maize cob percentages were used: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, in association with particles of Pinus oocarpa wood. Panels were made with 8% of urea formaldehyde and 1% of paraffin (based on dry weight of particles). For compressing the panels, a pressure of 3.92 MPa was applied at a temperature of 160º C, for 8 minutes. Increased replacement of pinewood by maize cob residue promoted significant improvements to the properties water absorption after two hours of immersion, thickness swelling after two and after twenty-four hours of immersion. Mechanical properties had a decreasing correlation with the maize cob percentage being incorporated.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONBrazil is in essence an agroindustrial country and as a consequence it has several types of lignocellulosic residue with potential for use, including maize cob, husks of rice, coffee, peanut, coconut and castor oil plant, as well as banana stem, cassava stem and sugarcane bagasse, among others (MENDES et al, 2010a; MENDES et al, 2010b.)
Brazil is in essence an agroindustrial country and as a consequence it has several types of lignocellulosic residue with potential for use, including maize cob, husks of rice, coffee, peanut, coconut and castor oil plant, as well as banana stem, cassava stem and sugarcane bagasse, among others (MENDES et al, 2010a; MENDES et al, 2010b.).Among the already mentioned residues, maize cob is worthy of special mention due to its high volume productivity, with corn (Zea mays L.) being ranked third among the most widely cultivated cereals worldwide, after wheat and rice (FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION – FAO, 2008)
This agricultural residue can accumulate in large quantities and, as a result, cause environmental problems
Summary
Brazil is in essence an agroindustrial country and as a consequence it has several types of lignocellulosic residue with potential for use, including maize cob, husks of rice, coffee, peanut, coconut and castor oil plant, as well as banana stem, cassava stem and sugarcane bagasse, among others (MENDES et al, 2010a; MENDES et al, 2010b.). Among the already mentioned residues, maize cob is worthy of special mention due to its high volume productivity, with corn (Zea mays L.) being ranked third among the most widely cultivated cereals worldwide, after wheat and rice (FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION – FAO, 2008). This agricultural residue can accumulate in large quantities and, as a result, cause environmental problems. According to Buranello (2009), the worldwide production of corn is around 800 million tons, it is necessary to assign for correct use the waste material produced by this crop. Considering the above context, the objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using maize cob for production of particleboard panels in association with pinewood particles (Pinus oocarpa Schiede ex Schltdl.)
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