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Beneficiation of wood sawdust into cellulose nanocrystals for application as a bio-binder in the manufacture of particleboard

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Abstract

This study reports on the beneficiation of wood sawdust into cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) for application as a binder in the manufacture of particleboard. The cellulose nanocrystal from wood sawdust was extracted using acid hydrolysis and an oxidizing agent. This was used as it is for particleboard fabrication, likewise, after cross-linking with several cross-linking agents, viz., CNC-glyoxal, CNC-hexamine, CNC-polyamide–epichlorohydrin, and CNC-polyethylene to make cross-linked binders. The tensile strength performances of the particleboard panels were determined by modulus of rupture (MOR) and elasticity (MOE). The characterization of the CNC by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed cellulose functional structures in the CNC. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated high crystallinity index (78%) of the CNC and typical nano-dimensions of 2.1–10 nm for diameter and 150–350 nm for length as revealed by the transmission electron microscope (TEM). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermogravimetric (DTG) analyze high thermal stability (250–400 ℃) of the CNC. Significant mechanical strength performances of the particleboard panels were evident in the modulus of rupture (MOR) and the modulus of elasticity (MOE) values that were determined. The panels met grade 1-L-1 specification of the American National Standards Institute A208.1. The incorporation of cross-linking agents enhanced the static bending and bonding strength properties of the formulated bio-binders. It can be concluded that cellulose nanocrystals extracted from waste wood sawdust could be considered for use as a binder to produce environmentally friendly wood composites bio-adhesives and particleboard panel fabrication.

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Data availability

The cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) generated in this work will be made available to other research groups upon request to the authors (O. D. Fagbemi, 217,080,870@stu.ukzn.ac.za, and B. Sithole, sitholeb1@ukzn.ac.za).

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the funding and the support received from the Bio-refinery Industry Development Facility (BIDF) from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), South Africa. Dr. Viren and Dr. Prabashini are highly appreciated and the technical support of Mr. Navan. The authors acknowledged the help of Dr. Luvuyo Tyoda and Dr. Abiodun Alawode of the Department of Forestry and Wood Science at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, during the production and testing of the particleboard panels.

Funding

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Bio-refinery Industry Development Facility (BIDF), and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) South Africa, Waste Research Development and Innovation Roadmap, and the Bio-refinery Consortium research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Discipline of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 238 Mazizi Kunene road, Durban, 4001, Glenwood, South Africa

    Olajumoke D. Fagbemi & Bruce Sithole

  2. Department of Chemical, Fibre and Environmental Technology, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos, PMB 21023, Ikeja, Nigeria

    Olajumoke D. Fagbemi

  3. Biorefinery Industry Development Facility, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, 359 Mazisi Kunene road, Durban, 4001, Glenwood, South Africa

    Olajumoke D. Fagbemi, Jerome E. Andrew & Bruce Sithole

Authors
  1. Olajumoke D. Fagbemi
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  2. Jerome E. Andrew
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  3. Bruce Sithole
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Contributions

Fagbemi Olajumoke: investigation, methodology, data curation, writing—original draft preparation, formal analysis, validation, and visualization.

Bruce Sithole: resources, supervision, funding acquisition, conceptualization, and writing—review and editing.

Jerome Andrew: supervision and writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Olajumoke D. Fagbemi.

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Fagbemi, O.D., Andrew, J.E. & Sithole, B. Beneficiation of wood sawdust into cellulose nanocrystals for application as a bio-binder in the manufacture of particleboard. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 13, 11645–11656 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-02015-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-02015-6

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