Page 53 - FDMAsia Mar/Apr 2026

MATERIALS 51
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA MAR/APR 2026

DEVELOPMENT OF ECO-FRIENDLY

PARTICLEBOARDS FROM SAWDUST AND

RECYCLED WOOD

The conventional particleboard industry poses environmental, health, and end-use risks. Besides,
rising raw material prices, regulatory restrictions, and increasing competition in the wood-processing
sector have further highlighted the importance of alternative biomass resources for particleboard
production. In response to these challenges, this study investigates the suitability of available
sawdust resources derived from the production residues of cellular wood materials and recycled
particleboards, combined with natural suberinic acids mixture obtained from birch outer bark as a
binder. By Ramunas Tupciauskas, Andris Berzins, Gunars Pavlovics, Rudolfs Berzins, Martins
Andzs and Janis Rizikovs, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry

he conventional global production of wood-based
particleboards has shown a steady increase, exceeding

T100 million cubic metres per year since 2021. sustainability-directory.com
Particleboard is an engineered material widely used in
furniture, construction, and packaging, composed of wood or
other lignocellulosic particles bonded with synthetic adhesives
that typically contain carcinogenic formaldehyde.
This raises significant health concerns, especially in
indoor environments where air-quality standards must be met.

Consequently, the development of eco-friendly adhesives— (>1000 kg/m³).
preferably derived from natural resources—has become Suberinic acids (SA) obtained from the outer bark of birch
increasingly important. (Betula) have been investigated at the Latvian State Institute
In the field of natural biomass-based adhesive development, of Wood Chemistry, demonstrating good adhesive properties
numerous attempts have been made to incorporate starch, and potential suitability for particleboard production using alder
proteins (soy, gluten, casein), lignins (alkaline, hydrolysis, and birch wood particles.
organosolv, lignosulfonate), tannins, and various organic acids A detailed structural analysis of SA has revealed the
into particleboard production while achieving the required presence of monosaccharides, polyphenolics, and—most
performance properties. importantly—a high content of saturated long-chain fatty acids

Studies on particleboards bonded with alternative bio- containing epoxy and hydroxyl groups, which contribute to their
based adhesives report physical and mechanical properties favourable adhesive performance in wood-composite bonding
comparable to those of boards produced with conventional via esterification.
urea-formaldehyde resins. However, the compatibility of SA with other raw materials has
There is also considerable interest in developing binder-less not yet been investigated, particularly at lower panel densities.
particleboards that require no additional adhesives. However, Another challenge for the particleboard industry is the
this approach is generally feasible only for high-density boards availability of raw materials, driven by competition among