Potential use of peeler-core residue from logs peeling process as raw material for OSB production

• Grant number: 07/03156-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2008
• End date: March 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Technology and Use of Forest Products
• Principal Investigator: Geraldo Bortoletto Júnior
• Grantee: Geraldo Bortoletto Júnior
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The progressive increase of the volume of logs mechanically processed has been impelled by the crescent demand for wood based products, due to the demographic growth and the other socioeconomic factors. This tendency is beneficial, because it provides the development of the productive chain, resulting in increasing employments and income. However, raw material consumption in the domestic market now faces the problem of sustainable offer of industrial wood, due to the reduced planting rates in the years 80 and 90, resulting in higher wood prices. Additionally, higher consumption brings the problem of higher volume of the solid residues produced in the different processing stages. Usually, these residues don't find other use in the industry where they were generated, beside energy production. The solution of this problem is the development of researches that look for appropriate forms of transforming the residues in raw material for other processes of high aggregated value products. In this way, rational use of the renewable natural resources and the reduction of environmental impacts are promoted. Recently, some industries of wood based panels in Brazil started to incorporate wooden residues due to the growing readiness of residues and to a certain shortage of wood in natura that changed the relative cost of these two raw materials types. The proportion of residues in the manufacture of panels could go up to 30%. Examples of these panels are the conventional particleboard and MDF. However, for OSB manufacture, 100% of the raw material is logs wood. The aim of this research is to evaluate the potential use of peeler-core residue from logs peeling process as raw material for OSB production and to contribute for the minimization of the identified problem. (AU)