Utilisation of compost waste from cultivated mushroom production for particleboard manufacturing

In this thesis study, particleboards were manufactured from mixtures of compost waste from cultivated mushroom production and industrial particles at a certain ratios. The compost waste and industrial particles were mixed in core layer at ratios 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60% respectively. The suitability of compost waste chips for particleboard production was examined. Urea formaldehyde resin was used as a binder in 3-layers particleboards. Produced panels were tested for some mechanical and physical properties, formaldehyde emission, contact angles and thermal conductivity. Physical properties such as moisture content, density, water absorption and thickness swelling for 2 and 24 h water immersion times for particleboards were determined. In addition some mechanical properties such as internal bond, bending strength and modulus of elasticity were identified according to Turkey standards. Formaldehyde emissions of testing panels were determined by perforatör method as photometric. The wetting behaviors of particle boards were characterized by the contact angle method. Moreover thermal (heat) conductivity properties of the particleboard were investigated. Experimental results indicated that increase in compost waste chips in the mixture generally diminished the mechanical and physical properties. The increasing in thickness and water absorption for 24 hours also ranged from 9,3 to 11,5% and from 69,9 to 78%, respectively. The mean value of internal bond strength, bending strength and modulus of elasticity of the testing boards ranged from 0,18 to 0,38 N/mm2, from 6,96 to 12,62 N/mm2, from 1537 to 2532 N/mm2, respectively. Formaldehyde emission value of F group manufactured from 60% wood chips and 40% compost waste was lower than those of other groups. The highest formaldehyde emission value was determined E and H groups. Particleboards made from 60% compost waste had the highest average contact angle (69,2°), but the lowest was for the particleboards containing 100% industrial particles (53,6°). It was understood that particleboards as suitable for general-purpose and indoor from compost waste. The study suggests that the compost waste which was efficiently utilized in the industry can be important raw materials to be used in the particleboard industry of Turkey.