No abstract

Lignocellulosic residues resulting from agricultural activities and urban centers cause pollution. A possible solution to this problem is to combine these residues with woody plants to produce particleboards. The purpose of this study was to evaluate decay resistance, coating and burning properties and the change of color caused by accelerated weathering of particleboards manufactured with a combination of 3 woody species used for commercial reforestation in tropical areas (Cupressus lusitanica, Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis), pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaves from the crown and the plant (PL), empty fruit bunch of Elaeis guineensis (EBF) and tetra pak packages (TP). According to the results, the mixtures of T. grandis and EFB were classified as moderately resistant and other mixtures (woody species and PL or TP) were classified as slightly resistant. The finish performance test determined that the mixtures with TP presented the best performance, followed by the mixtures with oil palm components and the mixtures composed of pineapple leaves. Regarding lacquer consumption, no differences were found between the mixtures. The combustion test determined that particleboards with TP and EFB showed the highest resistance to combustion, while pineapple presented the lowest resistances to combustion. In the accelerated weathering exposure test, the mixtures of the three species with TP showed the best performance in accelerated weathering. Contrariwise, the mixtures with pineapple leaves showed the lowest resistance to accelerated weathering. Oil palm particleboards presented lower resistance to weathering than TP, though higher than pineapple leaves' resistance.

Lignocellulosic wastes resulting from agricultural activities as well as Tetra Pak residues from urban centres can cause significant levels of pollution. A possible action to minimize this problem is to use them in the production of particleboards. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical, mechanical, and hydration properties of particleboards manufactured with the mixture of woody biomass (Cupressus lusitanica, Gmelina arborea, and Tectona grandis) and either agricultural wastes [pineapple leaves (Ananas comosus) and palm residues (Elaeis guineensis)] or Tetra Pak residues (TP). The results show that the particleboards prepared with TP and woody biomass can reduce the swelling and water absorption in up to 40% and 50% compared with particleboards without TP. Also, these particleboards had increased flexure resistance and shear stress (up to 100%) compared with those without TP. On the contrary, particleboards prepared with pineapple leaves in combination with woody biomass showed the lowest mechanical properties, particularly for tensile strength, hardness, glue-line shear, and nail and screw evaluation.

Particleboards were manufactured from oil palm fruit, the oil palm mesocarp fiber of Elaeis guineensis, the leaves of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and the sawdust from three fast-growing species of trees (Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis and Cupressus lusitanica). The chemical and anatomical compositions of E. guineensis and A. comosus and their effects on urea-formaldehyde adhesive were investigated. Afterwards, the particle combination of the fiber of E. guineensis and A. comosus with the sawdust of three species was investigated. The results showed that the fiber of Elaeis guineensis has a higher oil content than that of the pineapple leaf, and the pineapple leaf has large fiber of over 5 mm. The fiber of E. guineensis must be washed with water to increase the adhesion of particles. The best combination of agricultural fiber and sawdust of fast growth tropical species is 50%-50%, respectively (waste agriculture and sawdust, w/w %). It was shown that the pineapple leaf and the empty fruit of oil palm can be substituted for conventional wood-based particleboards.