Oil Palm Particleboard: Properties and Fungi Susceptibility

Abstract

The utilization of oil palm biomass in the production of high-value products has increased substantially. Due to the presence of sugars and starches in their tissues, oil palms have an exceptionally low natural resistance to fungi, making them susceptible to contamination. In this study, the properties of particleboard made from oil palm fibers, namely empty fruit bunches (EFB), oil palm trunks (OPT), and oil palm fronds (OPF) fibers and its potential for fungal attack were evaluated. The chemical composition, spectroscopic characterization, morphological features, and elemental analysis of oil palm biomass fibers were identified and thoroughly examined. The mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the boards were assessed based on Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines. The density, strength, and moisture resistance of particleboard made from OPT fibers may vary from those made from OPF and EFB due to inherent changes in chemical composition and fiber structure. These differences have an impact on the overall performance of the particleboard. Based on the ANOVA and Tukey’s test results, significant differences in elasticity properties were observed mainly between OPT and other fibers, while bending strength revealed notable differences between various pairs of particleboards. The evaluation also highlighted variations in dimensional stability and water absorption capabilities. However, bending strength properties did not demonstrate any significant deviations. For the fungi test, fungal activity on the boards was observed over a two-week period in a controlled environment. The study revealed that oil palm-based particleboard exhibited susceptibility to fungal attacks, particularly from Aspergillus sp., Trichoderma sp., and Paecilomyces variotii. These findings highlight the necessity for additional treatments to control or prevent fungal growth, thereby enhancing the commercial value of the particleboards.