A new electroanalytical methodology was developed for the sensitive and selective determination of formaldehyde in wood-based products (WBPs), featuring an extraction process using a Headspace Liquid ...Acceptor System (HLAS), and detection by square-wave voltammetry (SWV) on unmodified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). HLAS, here presented for the first time, captures and derivatizes formaldehyde released from the sample by using the acetylacetone reagent as acceptor solution. The product of formaldehyde with acetylacetone, in the presence of ammonium salt, is 3,5-diacetyl-1,4-dihydrolutidine (DDL) which we have found to be electrochemically active at unmodified SPCEs, generating a selective oxidation peak at +0.4 V. Detection and quantification limits of 0.57 and 1.89 mg kg−1 were obtained, together with intra- and inter-day precisions below 10% (as relative standard deviation, RSD). The methodology was used to determine formaldehyde content in seven WBPs, with similar results being obtained by the developed HLAS-SPCE method and the European standard method EN 717–3, with a profound reduction of total analysis time.
The developed HLAS-SPCE combines the use of a new sample preparation procedure for volatiles with, as far as we know, the first determination of formaldehyde (as the derivative product, DDL) on unmodified SPCEs, offering a promising alternative for the determination of formaldehyde in WBPs and other samples.
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•Development of a Headspace Liquid Acceptor System (HLAS) for volatile compounds.•First determination of formaldehyde on unmodified screen-printed carbon electrodes.•Formaldehyde derivatized to 3,5-diacetyl-1,4-dihydrolutidine (DDL) by acetylacetone.•Electroanalytical utilization of DDL oxidation voltammetric peak at +0.4 V.•Significant reduction of total analysis time compared to EU standard methods.
This study identifies new wood-based products with considerable potential and attractive markets, including textiles, liquid biofuels, platform chemicals, plastics, and packaging. We apply a ...mixed-methods review to examine how the position of the forest industry in a given value chain determines the respective production value. An assessment is provided as to the degree to which these emerging wood-based products could compensate for the foreseen decline of graphic paper markets in four major forest industry countries: USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. A 1%–2% market share in selected global markets implies a potential increase in revenues of 18–75 billion euros per annum in the four selected countries by 2030. This corresponds to 10%–43% of the production value of forest industries in 2016 and compares with a projected decline of graphic paper industry revenue of 5.5 billion euros by 2030. The respective impacts on wood use are manifold, as many of the new products utilize by-products as feedstock. The increase in primary wood use, which is almost entirely attributed to construction and to some extent textiles markets, would be in the range of 15–133 million m
3
, corresponding to 2%–21% of the current industrial roundwood use in the selected countries.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BF, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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•A novel artificial vision method for estimating roughness in wood-based products.•Features are extracted from surface photographs enhanced with edge detection.•Bayesian models relate ...images features and surface roughness with high correlation.•Computer vision is compared to stylus and confocal microscope measurements.•The best results are obtained with the Roberts algorithm and Energy feature.
In the wood industry, surface inspection post-sanding is critical during the final production stages. This inspection relies on subjective assessments made by operators due to the challenges of adapting traditional measuring techniques to industrial environments. This study introduces an innovative artificial vision approach for the in-line inspection of surface roughness applied to wood and wood-based products in highly automated manufacturing systems. The procedure is based on extracting features from the grey-level co-occurrence matrix in images processed with edge-detection algorithms. Images are derived from photographs of sanded medium-density fibreboard, and models predicting surface roughness were formulated and compared with direct measurements using a stylus profilometer and a confocal microscope. Results showed that the most effective algorithm-feature combination was Roberts and Uniformity of Energy, with consistent performance for different roughness parameters. This approach can improve quality control and extend to a broader range of materials and applications.
Efforts to reduce the use of solid wood have led to an increase in the production of wood-based products especially particleboard. The wood industry is now exploring alternative materials such as ...crop residue, agricultural biomass, and non-woody plants to meet the demand for the wood-based products. This article focuses on the potential of Nipah palm frond, an abundant but underutilized non-wood resource in Sarawak, as a potential raw material for particleboard. Since the research on Nipah plant is still relatively new, no commercialised products have been developed from this plant. Therefore, this review paper evaluates the properties of Nipah palm frond and its compatibility with particleboard processing parameters in order to produce particleboard for non-construction applications. Despite limitations in raw material properties, prior studies suggest Nipah palm frond particles can be used to produce medium-density particleboard. The article offers comprehensive rationale for product development and provides recommendations for processing parameters, offering insights into the potential of this sustainable resource in the wood-based industry.
The targets for renewable energy set by the European Union have resulted in a surge in consumption of wood pellets, and the demand is expected to further increase the next decade. We use economic ...modelling to assess the impact on global wood-based product markets of gradually increasing wood pellets consumption within the EU. Comparing a scenario wherein consumption is determined exclusively by market forces with one where EU consumption is set to double between 2015 and 2030, we characterize the deviation from the unregulated market equilibrium that would attain. Our results highlight the necessity of assessing market impacts over time, with a sufficient geographical disaggregation. An increased EU demand for wood pellets would, apart from increased EU production, results in increased imports. The main sources are projected to be Russia, Canada, and, particularly, the USA. The results indicate synergies and competition between wood-based products and wood pellets. In general sawmilling stand to gain from increased wood pellets' consumption, while the opposite holds for wood-based panels and most paper grades. Due to the feedstock mix used in production of wood pellets and wood-based products, effects vary over time and among different EU members, as well as between EU and other regions.
•We propose a simulation approach for policy analysis regarding EU energy targets.•The approach relies on a high level of disaggregation among wood-based products.•Simulated raised EU consumption of wood pellet reduces consumption in other regions.•Both synergies and competition between wood products and wood pellets are evident.•Impacts on wood product markets vary within as well as across global sub-regions.
Nowadays, several novel standards guide the environmental assessment work in the field of construction products. In this study, allocation methods presented in EN 15804 standard are demonstrated in a ...comparable manner for sawmilling products. Cradle to gate assessment was done for three European sawmills, where different allocation methods were used in manufacturing phase. Firstly, were used physical allocation (volume based) and economic allocation (value based). Secondly, manufacturing process steps were divided (subdivision) and physical and economic allocation were used for these. In the third option, used as a reference, all environmental impacts of the manufacturing stage were allocated to the main product. This study focuses on indicators for describing environmental impacts and use of primary energy.
Results indicate that allocation influences how impacts are distributed to the sawmilling products. As supposed, sawn timber as main product is getting biggest impact in all cases, because of the biggest quantity in production. Physical allocation is looking volumetric distribution of the products, where economic allocation is also considering value of the products. Additional, subdivision will give more holistic approach based on different production steps together with physical or economic quantities. Based on the results, the subdivision with economic allocation or the economic allocation gives more realistic impacts to low value by-products. Subdivision with economic allocation is the most holistic option, because impacts are allocated by processes, volumes and values.
Despite of all standardization work, many different assessment methods can and are still used for the environmental assessment of the building products. That has led to a situation where different datasets are not comparable with each other and this causes confusion in users of the environmental datasets. Therefore, transparent datasets are needed to avoid misunderstandings and the reporting system could be developed to be more uniform.
•All relevant standards recommend avoiding allocation by using subdivision or system expansion.•When allocation must be using, allocation should divide impacts evenly to different products.•The economic allocation options give more realistic impacts to low value by-products.
Purpose
With many policies in Germany steering towards a bioeconomy, there is a need for analytical tools that assess not only the environmental and economic implications but also the social ...implications of a transition to a bioeconomy. Wood is expected to become a major biomass resource in bioeconomy regions. Therefore, this paper develops a social life cycle assessment (sLCA) framework that can be applied specifically to a wood-based production system in one of Germany’s bioeconomy regions.
Methods
This paper reviews and analyses existing sLCA approaches, in terms of how applicable they are for assessing a wood-based production system in a German bioeconomy regional context. The analysis is structured according to the standard phases of environmental life cycle assessment (LCA). However, we use the term social effects rather than social impacts, to acknowledge the unknown cause–effect relationship between an organisation’s activities and its social impacts. We also consider the establishment of regional system boundaries, as well as the relationship between the social effects and the product being assessed. Additionally, an approach for the development and selection of social indicators and indices is outlined. Furthermore, we discuss data requirements and present an approach for a social life cycle impact assessment method.
Results and discussion
A new conceptual framework for a context-specific sLCA to assess wood-based products manufactured in a bioeconomy region was developed. It enables sLCA practitioners to identify “social hotspots” and “social opportunities” from a regional perspective. The location and characteristics of these social hotspots and opportunities can be analysed, in particular, for major production activities in a bioeconomy region in Germany. Therefore, according to this framework, the development of social indices and indicators, the collection of data and the approach used for characterising social effects need to relate to the geographical context of the product being assessed. The proposed framework can, thus, help to identify, monitor and evaluate the social sustainability of wood-based bioeconomy chains in a regional context.
Conclusions
This framework requires a high level of detail in the social inventory and impact assessment phase, in order to assess the regional foreground activities in a German wood-based bioeconomy region. It enables sLCA studies to identify which social hotspots and social opportunities occur and where they are located in the wood-based production system of a regional bioeconomy.
The increasing utilization of wood-based products raises new demands for improved durability, for example an enhanced liquid repellence. Superhydrophobic or superamphiphobic surfaces have been widely ...fabricated. Less attention has been paid to such modifications on wood and the changes of its hygroscopic or solvoscopic properties. In this work, wood veneers were surface modified by hydrophobized silicone nanofilaments. Results revealed that the surface-modified wood showed a superamphiphobic behavior, i.e. it repelled water, ethylene glycol and hexadecane with contact angles greater than 150° and roll-off angles of less than 10°. Most importantly, a plastron effect was observed when the surface-modified wood was submerged in water, ethylene glycol or hexadecane, which reduced the liquid sorption rate and extent to various degrees. By comparing the measured permeabilities and the estimated diffusive mass flux and supported by Hansen solubility parameters and the degrees of swelling, it is concluded that diffusion is the major cause for the liquid uptake in the surface-modified wood. Moreover, the interaction between the liquid and the modified layer (the solubility of the liquid in the modified layer) also needs to be considered, especially in hexadecane.
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•Superamphiphobic wood surfaces were successfully prepared by hydrophobized silicone nanofilaments.•A plastron effect was observed when the surface-modified wood (SMB) was submerged in water, ethylene glycol or hexadecane.•The plastron reduced the liquid uptake of the SMB in hexadecane but not in water under long-time submersion.•The diffusion in the plastron accounts for the major difference in the liquid uptake of SMB.•The interaction between the liquid and the surface layer/solubility contributes to the liquid uptake in hexadecane.
ABSTRACT The use of nanoparticles appears to be a feasible option for improving the quality of a range of wood-based products. Studies show that they can improve both the physical and mechanical ...properties of wood and wood-based products. This preliminary study aimed to analyze the influence of SiO2 nanoparticles on the physical and mechanical properties of wood particleboard. To this end that, panels were produced without the addition of SiO2 nanoparticles and with the addition of 4% by mass of the urea formaldehyde adhesive used for its production. The results showed that panels produced with the nanoparticles 42% reduction in thickness swelling of the panel. Therefore, the dimensional stability of the panels without decreasing mechanical properties, even when used in small proportions.
•Wood-based substitution benefits are likely to decrease over time•Carbon residence has more importance in the future as an indicator•Energy use of wood should be reduced to increase climate ...benefits•Global agreement is needed to fund clean technologies and reduce fossil ones
To obtain net climate benefits from intensified forest utilization in the short-term, the substitution impact of wood harvesting and increased carbon stocks of wood-based products should be higher than the forest carbon stock loss. However, the product specific substitution impacts change dynamically over time along with technological development, and long-term climate change mitigation strategies need to consider this, as well as the market forces. We identified future pathways enabling globally market viable environments for wood utilization scenarios in Finland resulting in net climate benefits in 2050. We I) indicated substitution impacts in 2050 applying future-oriented parameter modification based on LCA, and developed quantitative target scenarios by altering wood-based product portfolios to achieve required substitution, and II) identified pathways enabling scenarios by applying participatory backcasting. In the scenarios, a major shift from primary energy use to high added-value products including textiles, chemicals, composites and advanced biofuels, or long-lifetime construction products was needed and more lifecycles for wood products by recycling were required. The actions enabling market viable environment focused on the global level policies and consumer perceptions, while actions locally were limited and current production technology development oriented. We recommend multi-target backcasting together with LCA to analyse more synergies and trade-offs.
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