All-lignocellulosic Fiberboard from Steam Exploded Arundo Donax L.

This paper explores the possibility of producing all-lignocellulosic fiberboards from Arundo donax L. as a source of lignocellulosic fibers with no synthetic binders. This raw material was steam exploded with a thermomechanical aqueous vapor process in a batch reactor. The Arundo donax raw material and its obtained pulp were characterized in terms of chemical composition and the results were compared to other lignocellulosic materials. The chemical composition of steam exploded Arundo fibers showed high cellulose and a moderate lignin content suggesting it was a good raw material for fiberboard production. The all-lignocellulosic fiberboards were produced on laboratory scale; using the steam exploded Arundo donax by means of a wet process. The effects of pressing pressure on physical and mechanical properties were evaluated and the conditions that optimize the responses were found. The analyzed properties were density (d); water absorption (WA); thickness swelling (TS); modulus of elasticity (MOE); modulus of rupture (MOR); and internal bond strength (IB). The tested levels of the pressing pressure range from 0.35 to 15 MPa. The optimum IB; MOE; MOR; WA and TS were 1.28 MPa, 7439 MPa, 40.4 MPa, 17.6% and 13.3%, respectively. The obtained fiberboards were of very good quality and more than satisfy the requirements of the relevant standard specifications.

Feasibility of incorporating treated lignins in fiberboards made from agricultural waste.

This paper studies the feasibility of incorporating treated lignins in fiberboards made from Vitis vinifera as an agricultural waste. The treated lignins are the purified Kraft lignin and the alkaline hydrolyzed Kraft lignin. V. vinifera raw material and its fibers were characterized in terms of chemical composition and the results were compared to other biomass species. The chemical composition of treated lignins shows that they have high purity compared to the lignin raw material. The lignin-V. vinifera fibreboards were produced on laboratory scale by adding powdered treated lignins to the material that had previously been steam exploded. Some of the important properties of fibreboards prepared using the treated lignins as natural adhesives were evaluated. These properties were density, thickness swelling, water absorption, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, internal bond strength. The explored levels of treated lignins vary from 5% to 20%. The results showed that binderless fibreboards, fibreboards made from V. vinifera fibers and alkaline hydrolyzed Kraft lignin have weaker mechanical properties. However, the fibreboards obtained using purified Kraft lignin have good mechanical and water resistance properties which satisfy the requirements of the relevant standards specifications.