Pyrolysis of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) wastes in a screw reactor

Published Date
1 March 2015, Vol.92:223–233, doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2014.12.032

Author 

• Suelem Daiane Ferreira ^a,c,,
• Carlos Roberto Altafini ^a
• Daniele Perondi ^b,c
• Marcelo Godinho ^b

• aPostgraduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Professional Master Degree, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
• bPostgraduate Program in Engineering Processes and Technologies, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
• cPostgraduate Program in Mining Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Received 8 October 2014. Accepted 12 December 2014. Available online 8 January 2015. 

Highlights

• Medium Density Fiberboard wastes were pirolized in an auger reactor.
• •
  Experiments were carried out at two reaction temperatures and three solid residence times.
• •
  Yields were influenced by pyrolysis temperature, as well as by solid residence time.
• •
  Higher temperature produced more bio-oil rather than char generation.
  Chars superficial area were compatibles with those of commercial activated carbons.

Abstract 

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) wastes were undergoes via a thermal treatment through of a pyrolysis process. Pyrolysis was carried out in a pilot scale reactor with screw conveyor at two reaction temperatures (450 and 600 °C) and, for each one, three solid residence times (9, 15 and 34 min) were evaluated. Products (char/bio-oil/fuel gas) of the pyrolysis process were characterized and quantified. Results revealed that the products yields were influenced by pyrolysis temperature, as well as by solid residence time. Char yield ranged between 17.3 and 39.7 (wt.%), the bio-oil yield ranged between 23.9 and 40.0 (wt.%), while the fuel gas yield ranged between 34.6 and 50.7 (wt.%). The samples surface area at 450 and 600 °C in 15-min residence time were surprisingly high, 415 and 593 m² g⁻¹, respectively, which are compatible with the superficial area of commercial activated carbons. Energetic efficiency of process was estimated from energetic content present in the reaction products and the energetic content of MDF wastes, and the following results were obtained: 41.4% (fuel gas), 35.5% (char) and 29.2% (bio-oil). The contribution of this work is the development of a detailed study of the MDF pyrolysis in a pilot reactor with screw conveyor that supports the biorefineries concept.

Keywords

Medium Density Fiberboard

Pyrolysis

Screw reactor and residence time

---

Fig. 1.

 Table 1

Table 1.

 Table 2

Table 2.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

 Table 4

Table 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11.

Fig. 12.

 Table 5

Table 5.

 Table 6

Table 6.

 Table 7

Table 7.

 Table 8

Table 8.

 Table 9

Table 9.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author at: Postgraduate Program in Mining Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196890414010711

Application of bioethanol derived lignin for improving physico-mechanical properties of thermoset biocomposites

Published Date
August 2016, Vol.89:265–272, doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.04.077

Author 

• Dilpreet S. Bajwa ^,
• Xinnan Wang
• Evan Sitz
• Tyler Loll
• Sujal Bhattacharjee

• Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dolve Hall 111, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

Received 2 December 2015. Revised 21 April 2016. Accepted 26 April 2016. Available online 27 April 2016. 

Highlights

• Lignin from ethanol production can serve as a functional filler in thermoset composites.
• •
  Type of lignin and loading fraction level can help to design and engineer composite properties.
• •
  Addition of 15% wheat or corn stover bioethanol lignin shows minimal impact on mechanical properties of epoxy based composites.
• •
  Impact strength of epoxy based composites can be improved by addition of lignin.
• •
  Lignin can improve the thermal stability of epoxy composites through barrier effect.

Abstract 

Lignin is the most abundant of renewable polymers next to cellulose with a global annual production of 70 million tons, largely produced from pulping and second generation biofuel industries. Low value of industrial lignin makes it an attractive biomaterial for wide range of applications. The study investigated the application of wheat straw and corn stover based lignin derived from ethanol production for use in thermoset biocomposites. The biocomposite matrix constituted a two component low viscosity Araldite^®LY 8601/Aradur^® 8602 epoxy resin system and the lignin content varied from 0 to 25% by weight fraction. The analysis of the physical and mechanical properties of the biocomposites show bioethanol derived lignin can improve selective properties such as impact strength, and thermal stability without compromising the modulus and strength attributes.

Keywords

Biocomposites

Lignin

Physical and mechanical properties

---

Fig. 1.

 Table 1

Table 1.

Fig. 2.

 Table 2

Table 2.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author.
  
  

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016523701530070X

The mechanical properties of soybean straw and wheat straw blended medium density fiberboards made with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate binder

Published Date
30 November 2015, Vol.75:200–205, doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2015.05.006

Author 

Evan D. Sitz

Dilpreet S. Bajwa ^,

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dolve Hall 111, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

Received 30 January 2015. Revised 6 May 2015. Accepted 7 May 2015. Available online 27 May 2015. 

Highlights

• Wheat straw fiberboard has better fastener retention than soybean straw fiberboard.
• •
  Press load during manufacture has the greatest effect on board mechanical properties.
• •
  Blended wheat/soybean straw fiberboard is comparable to single fiber boards.
• •
  Soybean straw fiberboard is a viable alternative to wheat straw fiberboard.

Abstract 

A study was conducted to test the mechanical properties of medium density fiberboard (MDF) produced using soybean straw [Glycine max], wheat straw [Triticum aestivum], and a blend of the two fibers and the variations in properties that this blend produced. Additionally, the difference of soybean straw fibers compared to wheat straw fibers in the performance of MDF properties was investigated. Three formulations of the fibers were produced and tested to investigate the variation between properties of boards produced from the different fibers. The boards produced for testing were pressed using a hot press with 4 wt% methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) resin used to bond the particles and 2 wt% AW-50 wax emulsion used as a water retardant. The boards produced had a nominal density ranging from 579 kg/m³ to 646 kg/m³. Several test methods from ASTM standard D1037-12 were utilized to test the physical and mechanical properties of the boards. Initial results from the testing showed that several combinations of fibers could be used to produce boards with mostly no statistically significant difference between any one formulation, the only difference being a significantly higher difference in the screw withdrawal load needed for 100% wheat fiberboards compared to other formulations. The testing showed the viability of soybean stover fibers as a viable substitute or blend with wheat straw fibers with no appreciable decrease in the board properties except in the case of direct screw withdrawal resistance.

Keywords

Agricultural residuals

Medium density fiberboard

Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate

Soybean straw

Wheat straw

---

 Table 1

Table 1.

 Table 2

Table 2.

Fig. 1.

 Table 3

Table 3.

 Table 4

Table 4.

Fig. 2.

 Table 5

Table 5.

 Table 6

Table 6.

Fig. 3.

 Table 7

Table 7.

Fig. 4.

 Table 8

Table 8.

Fig. 5.

 Table 9

Table 9.

Fig. 6.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author.
  
  

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016523701530070X