Work

Review of composite boards derived from agro-industrial food waste: focus on fruit and seed biomass

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: There is a growing demand for sustainable materials in construction and furniture industries that has spurred research into alternative raw materials for board production. While existing reviews broadly address agricultural biomass in particleboard manufacturing, this review focuses specifically on seed/fruit-based (SFB) biomass, an abundant post-processing industrial waste. Boards produced from pure, intermixed, and wood-particle-hybridised SFB wastes were reviewed and assessed against EN 312 standard requirements, preferred for its tiered classification scheme (P1-P7). Most pure SFB boards exhibit high thickness swelling (TS > 20%), low modulus of rupture (MOR < 10 MPa), modulus of elasticity (MOE < 1148 MPa), and internal bond strength (IB < 0.62 MPa), restricting them to non-structural (P1-P2) use. Intermixing SFB types reduces TS to 13.8% and increases minimum MOR, MOE, and IB to 1.4 MPa, 201 MPa, and 0.15 MPa, respectively. However, these improvements are modest, due to low cellulose content. Incorporating cellulosic wood particles significantly enhances board properties, with many hybrids achieving TS < 20%, MOR > 13 MPa, MOE > 1777 MPa, and IB > 0.84 MPa, meeting P1-P2 and some P3-P4 standard requirements. With proper adhesives, intermixing, and wood hybridisation, SFB panels suit P1 and P2 boards for dry interior and furniture applications.

Source: International Journal of Sustainable Engineering

DOI: 10.1080/19397038.2025.2538859

Authors: Nelson Wanjala Barasa, Thomas Ochuku Mbuya, Anand Ramesh Sanadi, Meisam Jalalvand

Institutions: University of Nairobi, University of Southampton, University of Copenhagen

Language: English

Topic: Wood Treatment and Properties

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,860