Environmentally friendly wood composite fabricated from rubberwood using citric acid esterified oil palm starch

Abstract

Oil palm trees older than 25 years of age are usually cut down because of low productivity and the resulting biomass is left to degrade naturally. Unfortunately, the disposal of this biomass becomes a major issue in many plantations, as it requires additional costs. Considering the high starch content of oil palm trunks, it is essential to find a potential utilisation for this biomass. The main objective of this study was to evaluate some of the properties of experimentally manufactured particleboard panels made from rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) using oil palm starch as a binder. The starch extracted from oil palm trunk was esterified using citric acid before being used as an organic-based wood binder. Three types of panels, namely, one bound with citric acid modified oil palm starch (CAMOPS), another using a combination of citric acid modified oil palm starch and 2% urea formaldehyde (CAMOPSUF), and finally, the third glued with urea formaldehyde resin (control), were manufactured in the study. Panels of 210 mm x 210 mm x 50 mm dimensions were made at three target density levels. The results showed that the thickness swelling of CAMOPSUF wood composites improved up to 79.37%. Furthermore, at 0.70 gcm-3 density level, all the wood composites met the mechanical strength standard, as proposed by the Japanese Industrial Standards. The wood composite prepared using modified oil palm starch binder has high potential to be commercialized, besides offering a way to improve waste disposal management on oil palm plantations.