Formaldehyde release from medium density fiberboard in simulated landfills for recycling

Abstract

Laboratory-scale landfills (simulated landfills) were designed to determine the formaldehyde released into air and leachate from medium density fiberboard (MDF). Simulated landfills were constructed using cylindrical plastic containers containing alternating layers of soil and MDF for a total of five layers. The highest concentration of formaldehyde was found in the air and leachate from the MDF only treatment compared to treatments containing MDF and soil. At the end of the study (28 days), formaldehyde concentrations in air and leachate from treatments containing MDF and soil decreased by 70 percent and 99 percent, respectively, while the treatment containing MDF only still released formaldehyde into the air and leachate. Therefore, waste MDF after storing 4 weeks in water may be recycled as compost or mulch based on formaldehyde leaching. Also, these data indicate soil restricts formaldehyde release into air and leachate and provides new information about the fate of wood-based composite waste containing UF resin disposed in landfills.