Topic A.2: Characterization of the by-products in the lumber industry concerning their suitability for high quality applications of innovative products
The sawmill industry is the largest processor of logs from German forests. During the production of sawn timber, by-products such as sawdust, woodchips, and pieces of bark accrue - these can currently all be used for the generation of energy, or as woodchips in derived timber products and by the wood pulp industry. Owing to the changed variation in tree species in the German forests (more hardwood), there will be a shift in the sawnwood offering in the future, which will affect the range of by-products. This change in the composition of types of wood affects the applicability of by-products and will have consequences for the above-mentioned main buyers (chipboard manufacturer and wood pulp industry). Consequently, this topic examines the future by-products of the sawmill industry and their use in established (light wood-based panels (MDF = medium density fibreboard)) and innovative products (wood plastic composites (WPC), special types of pulp). This requires the technological characterization of the by-products’ material composition. A characterization of the likely substances is based on extensive chemical and physical analysis. More precisely:
- Production of sieved fractions
- Determination of the particle sizes, length-to-diameter ratios, etc.
- Determination of the chemical composition by means of wet chemical and other analysis techniques (e.g., FTIR - fast Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, NMR - nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and HPLC – high performance liquid chromatography)
- Determination of the physical parameters (sorption characteristics, contact angle, solidities, etc.)
- Production of certain key products with a selective composition of by-products (WPC, light wood-based panels, paper products)
- Measurement of relevant product characteristics (solidities, biological resistance, etc.)
The analyzed substance and by-products’ important basic properties are thus identified and these form the basis for further research on the future manufacturing of key products from the generated fibres and woodchips. The undertaken characterization of their physical and chemical properties makes information (the chemical composition, fiber properties, etc.) available for future by-products from the sawmill industry and, in turn, for their industrial application fields.