Medium-density Fiberboard Waste Research Articles

Challenges for recycling medium-density fiberboard (MDF)

Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is commonly used for furniture manufactured. The increase in demand and the short relative lifecycle have increased the generated waste volume, increasing concerns about disposal. Despite being mainly composed of input from a renewable source, very little of this material is recycled. In this sense, this aim article performed a literature overview of MDF recycling technologies presenting the challenges and perspectives to overcome this problem. The relevant articles considered for this review were selected from the Web of Science and the Scopus databases. The first step for MDF recycling is its disintegration, which inevitably changes the properties of the wood fibers from MDF waste. Allied with this, the other constituents, like resin, are a challenge to a recycling process that, a priori, is more appropriately carried out only with fibers. Ideally, it would be recycling the MDF in new panels, however, due to the mentioned issues, it is not possible in its entirety, and in a continuous way (in several recycling cycles). As MDF waste is a material with caloric capacity during combustion, converting it to energy is a possibility, especially when other more sustainable alternatives are difficult. An emerging alternative is the pyrolysis and enzymolysis of MDF to obtain valued products. Further studies are needed, both for the disintegration processes to preserve the characteristics of the MDF fibers and the other constituents together with the MDF to favor its recycling. It is lacking evaluation of the economic, and principally environmental issues of each recycling alternative.

Preparation and characterization of wood plastic composite produced from waste polystyrene with organic filler

In this study, polystyrene (PS) polymer composites were prepared and characterized by mechanically and physically. It was aimed to produce a cheap, lightweight, and eco-friendly wood plastic composite (WPC). Waste PS was melted in a cap by gasoline, and 200 % wheat flour (PS(W)), wheat starch (PS(S)), and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) sawdust (PS(D)) were added into the melted PS. After the mixture was well mixed in a dough-like form, it was placed into wooden molds and molds were kept in the oven at 140 °C for 30 minutes and then taken out, and kept for 20 minutes at 4 °C. After the cooling process, the composites were removed from the molds and were cut to 18 mm x 15 mm x 40 mm dimensions using a diagonal saw. Mechanical characterizations were carried out by Internal bonding (IB), Screw holding resistance for edge (SRE) and surface (SRS), Pressure (PR). Physically characterizations were carried out by Density (DN), Water absorption (WA), Thickness swelling (TS). Results show that PS(D) has the highest mechanical properties despite its lowest density. PS(W) sample has better mechanical properties than PS(S) sample. It has been determined that the wood composite obtained by the combination of MDF waste dust with melted waste PS is close to the mechanical and physical properties of particleboard. Waste PS can be blended with wood dust and used on wood composite.

Urea-Formaldehyde Resin Removal in Medium-Density Fiberboards by Steam Explosion: Developing Nondestructive Analytical Tools

The cascading recycling of wood waste is currently a hot topic. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is a material whose consumption has been increasing worldwide for several decades. However, current wood waste treatment processes do not allow for efficient recycling. The potential of steam explosion (SE) treatment was investigated for stripping off the urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin and producing clean fibers from MDF. Hot liquid water during the hydrothermal stage and water expansion during the decompression stage of SE provoked the (1) hydrolytic breakdown of UF and removal of >80% of resin from the fibers and (2) efficient defibration of MDF producing ≈67% of fibers with similar morphological features when compared with MDF fibers. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), nitrogen quantification, and confocal laser scanning microscopy/scanning electron microscopy-wavelength dispersive spectroscopy were used to evaluate the SE effect on UF removal from MDF fibers. The sample clusters obtained by principal component analysis of NIRS spectra were correlated with the nitrogen content and processing conditions used. This work brings versatile solutions based on hydrothermal treatments, namely SE, for diverse low environmental impact and valorization routes of MDF waste. We showed that MDF processing treatment must be chosen wisely according to the future valorization of the MDF targeted.

Effect of Medium-Density Fiberboard wastes ash on calcium silicate hydrate crystal of concrete

Due to the high consumption of Medium-density fiberboard (MDF), waste products of this material are growing worldwide. In this research, the feasibility of using Medium-density fiberboard waste ash (MDFWA) as part of cement in concrete was investigated. For this purpose, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 % of the cement in concrete was substituted with MDFWA. For all design mixes, the water/blind ratio and the volume of aggregates were same. The slump, compressive strengths, SEM, EDX, TGA, DSC, and FTIR tests were conducted on the samples. At 28 days, the results demonstrated that the compressive strength of the sample containing 20% MDFWA increased by 13.6% compared to the control sample. Furthermore, the microstructure of the concrete show that the voids of the sample containing 20% MDFWA reduced compared to the control sample and also more calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) crystal formed.

Influence of wood leachate industrial waste as a novel catalyst for the synthesis of UF resins and MDF bonded with them

MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) production processes produce a large amount of wood leachate as a hazardous waste. Wood leachate is a lignin-based waste material from the MDF production industry. It constitutes a potential environmental problem if discarded by penetrating into groundwater aquifers. Currently, there is no viable way for industrial MDF leachate waste to be transformed into environmentally friendly high value materials. The aim of this work was to present for the first time a novel approach which was successfully developed for the recovery of wood leachate industrial waste as a catalyst for the synthesis of UF adhesives for MDF panels. The leachates were examined by FTIR, 13 C NMR, and DSC as well as by evaluating the properties of fiberboards bonded with liquid UF resins. In addition, the other aim of this work was to capture the free formaldehyde gas emitted by MDF panels. It was of interest determine whether an MDF bonded panel prepared with a UF resin catalyzed by the wood leachate would exhibit lower formaldehyde emissions and the lowest thickness swelling, while still presenting a relatively good performance. The direct reuse of the fiberboard industrial leachate in the experiments demonstrated that the preparation method of the UF bonded fiberboard was environmentally friendly and sustainable. Therefore, this work arrived at some interesting conclusions that may be used as a base for future work on the recycling and reuse of MDF waste.

Eucalyptus Bark as Source of Bio-oil or Phenolic Compounds

Background: Eucalyptus bark and scraps are generated in the production of mediumdensity fiberboard (MDF). An approach aiming to add value to such wastes was studied, following the concepts of circular economy and biomass cascade strategy. Bio-oil and phenolic resin were produced by pyrolysis from two types of biomass, Eucalyptus bark and MDF waste. As is well known, conventional phenolic resins are normally obtained from fossil resources. These products were obtained from the pyrolysis of two types of biomass to reduce environmental waste and dependence on petroleum-based products. Objective: The main objective of the present study was to produce phenolic resin from Eucalyptus wastes, aiming to reduce the fossil dependence on conventional resins used in the production line of MDF. Methods: Fast pyrolysis and slow pyrolysis were employed for bio-oil and phenolic resin production. The bio-oil and resins were characterized with standard lab analyses for their physicochemical properties, while their thermal properties were studied via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results: The shear strength of the lap internal bonding of the phenolic resin binders with 19.8% of bio-oil was 2.09, 1.34, and 1.63 MPa under dry, boiler, and soaked conditions, respectively, which was acceptable for panel fabrication and can represent a significant saving in terms of fossil resins and cost reduction. Discussion: According to the results, 1 g medium fraction of bio-oils was equivalent to 1.35 g of conventional phenols, indicating those bio-oils as phenolic structures that could be used as binders. The bio-oil yields for bark and MDF were 40.9 and 25.1, respectively, which indicate a potential for replacing the conventional fossil-based phenolic resin. Conclusion: The results revealed the possibility of replacing conventional fossil-based chemicals with phenolic resin from renewable resources with similar overall properties, replacing about 1/3 of the conventional resin.

Mechanical and thermal properties of polystyrene and medium density fiberboard composites

Virgin polystyrene (PS) composites were reinforced with medium density fiberboard (MDF) residue, considering the influence of fiber content. The composites were evaluated for their morphology, identification of functional groups and thermal behavior. Mechanical tests and a degradation study under ultraviolet radiation (UV) were also performed. The results showed that the best properties were obtained for composites with 4% by mass of MDF waste. The addition of residue was found to increase thermal stability of polystyrene compared to its pure form. The morphology of the composites showed homogeneity of the material. In the degradation tests under ultraviolet (UV) radiation, it was found that the presence of MDF residue slows down the matrix degradation process when evaluated by means of tensile strength. Polystyrene composites reinforced with MDF residues showed good mechanical properties and can be applied in the development of materials that do not need a good appearance.

Fractionation of Waste MDF by Steam Refining.

In view of the expected increase in available waste medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and the current insufficient and unsatisfactory disposal capacities, efficient ways of recycling the waste material need to be developed. In this study, the potential of steam refining as a method to hydrolyze the resins, isolate fibers, and obtain a hemicellulose-rich extract available for further utilization in the context of a biorefinery was assessed. Two different MDF waste samples, as well as poplar (Populus spp.) and spruce (Picea spp.) wood chips for benchmarking, were treated over a severity range from 2.47 to 3.95. The separated fiber and extract fractions were analyzed with regard to yield, content of carbohydrates, acids, degradation products, and nitrogen. A fiber fraction of more than 70% yield and an extract containing up to 30% of carbohydrates for further processing can be gained by steam-refining waste MDF. At low severities, most of the nitrogen-based compounds are solubilized. Increasing the severity leads to a decrease in nitrogen in the extract as the nitrogen compounds are converted into volatiles. A non-hydrolysable resin residue remains on the fibers, independent of the treatment severity. In comparison to the benchmark samples, the extract fraction of waste MDF shows a high pH of 8 and high amounts of acetic and formic acid. The generation of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) on the other hand is suppressed. Distinct differences in carbohydrate hydrolysis behavior between waste MDF and conventional wood can be observed. Especially, the mannose-containing constituents seem to be resistant to hydrolysis reactions in the milieu created in MDF fractionation.

Cost–Benefit Analysis of Medium-Density Fiberboard Production by Adding Fiber from Recycled Medium-Density Fiberboard

Abstract Waste medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is mostly disposed of in landfills and left for incineration. The consequences of filling MDF waste to the landfill include undesirable associated cos...

TEKNIK PEMBUATAN PUPUK ORGANIK DARI LIMBAH PADAT INDUSTRI MDF

Woody waste from logging activities and the wood processing industry is quite large. If this waste is not utilized, it will cause considerable losses due to wasted woody waste. In Indonesia there are many wood processing industries including the pulp and paper industry, plywood, molding, and medium density fiberboard (MDF). In the MDF industry, chipping are the activities that must be carried out. However, this chipping activity leaves considerable waste in the form of fine chips. Related to this, it is necessary to find and get the use of organic solid waste into a product that can provide added value and technology that can be applied by the communities. One solusion to this is probably by utilizing the waste into organic fertilizer. The aim of this study was to obtain information and technology for making organic fertilizers from the MDF's organic solid waste industry. Fine chip samples were taken from the MDF industry using raw materials from acacia mangium and gmelina, located in Senoni, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan Province. Organic fertilizer was made by composting using EM-4 microbial consurtium with rice straw and chicken manure additives. The results of the study show that technically the composting of MDF solid waste can be done well. The composting process to mature takes about 4 months. Composting reduces the C element content of MDF waste from around 56% to 25%, and decreases the value of C/N ratio from 347 to around 28. Composting increases the N element more than 5 times, and also increases the content of K elements. Adding rice straw and chicken manure in general it tended to decrease the value of the C/N ratio, increase pH, and increase the levels of elements P, K, Ca and Mg and their cation exchange capacity. The addition of these materials generally made compost meet SNI standards except the compost water content.

Step pyrolysis of N-rich industrial biowastes: Regulatory mechanism of NOx precursor formation via exploring decisive reaction pathways

Step pyrolysis of N-rich industrial biowastes was used to explore decisive reaction pathways and regulatory mechanisms of NOx precursor formation. Three typical ones involving medium-density fiberboard waste (MFW), penicillin mycelia waste (PMW) and sewage sludge (SS) were employed to compare the formation characteristics of NOx precursors during one-step and two-step pyrolysis. Results demonstrated that considerable NH3-N predominated NOx precursors for one-step pyrolysis at low temperatures, depending on primary pyrolysis of labile amide-N/inorganic-N in fuels. Meanwhile, NOx precursors differed in the increment of each species yield while resembled in the total yield of 20–45 wt.% among three samples at high temperatures, due to specific prevailing reaction pathways linking with distinctive amide-N types. Subsequently, compared with one-step pyrolysis uniformly (800 °C), by manipulating intensities of reaction pathways at different stages (selecting differential intermediate feedstocks), two-step pyrolysis was capable of minimizing NOx precursor-N yield by 36–43% with a greater impact on HCN-N (75–85%) than NH3-N (9–37%), demonstrating its great capacity on regulating the formation of NOx precursors for industrial biowaste pyrolysis. These observations were beneficial to develop effective insights into N-pollution emission control during their thermal reutilization.

Evolution of nitrogen functionalities in relation to NOx precursors during low-temperature pyrolysis of biowastes

Nitrogen functionalities in biowastes appear to differ in species and thermal stabilities due to various nitrogen origins. Their evolution at primary pyrolysis is essential to the formation of NOx precursors while the relevant mechanisms and characteristics on this haven’t been clearly elucidated. Low-temperature pyrolysis of two biowaste categories involving agricultural ones (bean straw, BS; rice straw, RS; and wheat straw, WS) and industrial ones (medium-density fiberboard waste, MFW; penicillin mycelia waste, PMW; and sewage sludge, SS) were conducted to investigate evolution characteristics and pathways of nitrogen functionalities in relation to NOx precursors. Results demonstrated that N-A with various types (amino-N/amide-N/amine-N) together with N-IN (inorganic-N) were main nitrogen functionalities in two raw categories with a sequential thermal stability of N-IN (PMW, SS) < N-A (MFW) < N-A (PMW, SS) < N-A (agricultural ones), determining their evolution pathways. Subsequently, some of NH3-N was initially formed through decomposition of N-IN which was vanished at 250–300 °C. Furthermore, the majority of NH3-N was continuously produced by deamination of labile N-A and subsequent amine-N in tars. Simultaneously, their weak dehydrogenation would form a little HCN-N (<2.5 wt%). Two heterocyclic-N in chars were found to be firstly formed by stable N-A and then converted into quaternary-N together with some NH3-N. Hence, NH3-N was the more dominant species with a sequential yield of industrial ones ≫ agricultural ones. Accordingly, due to the most thermally unstable nitrogen functionalities in industrial biowastes, suitable low-temperature pyrolysis (250–300 °C) was found to be an excellent pretreatment technique for them to realize an effective nitrogen removal at a small cost of energy loss (e.g. 63% for MFW and 31% for PMW within 25% energy loss).

Comparisons of Formation Characteristics of NOx Precursors during Pyrolysis of Lignocellulosic Industrial Biomass Wastes

Lignocellulosic industrial biomass wastes (IBWs) are dominant biomass resources in China while their thermal reutilization may bring serious environmental issues due to high nitrogen content. Investigation of the formation of NOx precursors during their pyrolysis is significant. Based on the pyrolysis of three typical IBWs, medium-density fiberboard waste (MFW), Chinese herb residue (CHR), and tea stalk waste (TSW), in a horizontal tubular quartz reactor, similarities and differences between the formation characteristics of NH3 and HCN were investigated with the help of chemical absorption–spectrophotometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis technologies. The results indicated that amide-N was the overwhelming nitrogen functionality in lignocellulosic IBWs, determining the dominance of NH3 among NOx precursors. However, the ratio and total yield of HCN-N and NH3-N could be changed by affecting intrinsic formation pathways owing to pyrolysis conditions as well as physicochemical properties. Joint effects of thermal conditions on each NOx precursor yield were sequenced as rapid pyrolysis at high temperatures > slow pyrolysis at high temperatures > rapid pyrolysis at low temperatures ≈ slow pyrolysis at low temperatures. Meanwhile, the heating rate during slow pyrolysis had an ignorable impact. As a result, during rapid pyrolysis at high temperatures, larger particle size (0–900 μm) could significantly decrease the total yield by 16–17 wt % as well as favor NH3-N yield, while both pyrolysis atmosphere and moisture content presented limited effects. Furthermore, different thermal stability of amide-N type together with distinctive fuel components in three lignocellulosic IBWs led to their differences on the ratio of TSW > CHR > MFW at all temperature ranges and the total yield of MFW > CHR > TSW at low temperatures. However, total yield at high temperatures was observed to be 20–45 wt %, which had no relationship with fuel types. These observations will provide some helpful guidance regarding clean thermal reutilization of lignocellulosic IBWs.

NOx precursors evolving during rapid pyrolysis of lignocellulosic industrial biomass wastes

Nitrogen functionalities play an important role in the formation of NOx precursors during pyrolysis of lignocellulosic industrial biomass wastes (IBWs) while the influences haven’t been clarified yet. Based on the rapid pyrolysis of three typical ones - medium-density fiberboard waste (MFW), Chinese herb residue (CHR) and tea stalk waste (TSW) in a horizontal tubular quartz reactor, characteristics of NOx precursors and their relationships with nitrogen functionalities at different temperatures were elucidated with the help of spectrophotometry, XPS and GC-MS technologies. The results demonstrated that the overwhelming nitrogen functionalities in lignocellulosic IBWs were amide-N types with sequential thermal stabilities of caffeine>protein>polyamide. At 300–550°C, more stable amide-N tended to form heterocyclic-N in chars while more labile one was inclined to produce new kinds of amine-N in tars and NH3-N (12–17wt% yield) in gases. Meanwhile, the weak dehydrogenation (into HCN and nitrile-N) and the sustained polymerization of amine-N (into heterocyclic-N) in tars also occurred at this stage. At high temperatures (>550°C), HCN-N (10–16wt% yield) was produced by ring scission of heterocyclic-N in tars while 70% of NH3-N (∼16wt% total yield) was mainly generated by hydrogenation of heterocyclic-N in chars. In addition, the remaining 30% of NH3-N yield was attributed to the simultaneous thermal cracking of amine-N. Despite the similar evolution pathways of amide-N for three lignocellulosic IBWs, NH3-N yield was produced with sequence of MFW>CHR>TSW at low temperatures while HCN-N yield was generated with the opposite order at high temperatures due to different thermal stabilities of amide-N types. It might be concluded that thermal stabilities of amide-N together with subsequent nitrogen functionalities evolved were key factors controlling the formation of NOx precursors during lignocellulosic IBWs pyrolysis.

Absorção de água e propriedades mecânicas de compósitos poliméricos utilizando resíduos de MDF

Resumo Apresenta-se o estudo de viabilidade de utilização, como reforço em materiais compósitos poliméricos, de resíduos originados da manufatura dos painéis de MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), avaliando seu potencial como alternativa em substituição a cargas minerais para aplicação industrial. A escolha da resina poliéster ortoftálica foi motivada pelas suas propriedades e principalmente pelo seu baixo custo e facilidade de aquisição. Diferentes frações mássicas (m) de adição de resíduo em resina poliéster ortoftálica foram estudadas: 0, 10, 15 e 20%. As propriedades analisadas foram: resistência mecânica, absorção de água e grau de cristalinidade. Os resultados mostram a diminuição das propriedades mecânicas em até 53%, no índice de cristalinidade em até 18% e aumento no índice de absorção de água em quase cinco vezes para o compósito de maior adição de resíduo (C20).

Production and Characterization of Polymeric Composite Materials Using MDF Waste in Powder and Poliester Terephthalic Resin

The growing demand for panels of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) for manufacture of furniture produces significant quantities of waste, which is often inappropriate discarded. This paper presents the study of the characterization of a polymeric matrix composite reinforced with powdered MDF residues collected from cuts machines for furniture manufacturing. Samples of the composites having waste mass fractions (m) in the range of 0-20% in resin Terephthalic (E) were studied. Through mechanical and physical tests the maximum tensile and flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, maximum deformation, composite density and water absorption index were determined. A result of characterization tests confirms the viability of composite when compared to others composites using natural fibers as reinforcement or load.

Mechanical properties of wood plastic composite panels made from waste fiberboard and particleboard

AbstractThe possibility of producing wood‐plastic panels using a melt blend/hot press method was studied in this research. The studied panels were compared with conventional medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard (PB) panels. Wood‐plastic panels were made from high density polyethylene (as resin) and MDF waste and PB waste (as natural fiber) at 60, 70, and 80% by weight fiber loadings. Nominal density and dimensions of the panels were 1 g/cm3 and 35 × 35 × 1 cm3, respectively. Mechanical properties of the panels including flexural modulus, flexural strength, screw and nail withdrawal resistances, and impact strength were studied. Results indicated that the mechanical properties of the composites were strongly affected by the proportion of the wood flour and polymer. Maximum values of flexural modulus of wood plastic panels were reached at 70% fiber content. Flexural strength, screw and nail withdrawal resistance, and impact strength of wood plastic composites declined with the increase in fiber content from 60 to 80%. This was attributed to the lack of compatibility between the phases. The produced panels outperformed conventional PB panels regarding their mechanical properties, which were acceptable when compared with MDF panels as well. The best feature in the produced panels was their screw withdrawal resistance, which is extremely important for screw joints in cabinet making. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers