Authors : Thitivara Poonsawat, Pachara Ritdet and Songklod Jarusombutti
Abstract: Wood core of kenaf and hemp are the residue from bast fibre production. This research aims to find opportunities of turning these raw materials into wood pellets and particleboard for value-added products. Hemp and kenaf core residue from mechanical decortication and stem retting were grouped sorted according to their 5 different treatments: kenaf core residue from retting process (KeR); kenaf core residue from mechanical decortication (KeM); hemp core residue from mechanical decortication (HeM); kenaf core residue from mechanical decortication and hemp core residue from mechanical decortication ratio 1:1 by weight (HKM) and hemp core residue from mechanical decortication and sawdust ratio 1:1 by weight (HSD). The result showed that chemical properties of raw materials KeR, KeM and HeM were 75.06, 73.54 and 70.69% of holocellulose, respectively. Alphacellulose was at 60.46, 69.00 and 57.49%, respectively. Lignin was at 34.43, 35.14 and 30.49%, respectively. Wood pellets from all treatment perform gross heating value of 4,220-4,140 kcal kg–1with a net heating value of 3,890-3,810 kcal kg–1. The pellets were luster and strong in all treatments except KeR. After producing the particleboard, all samples performed modulus of rupture (MOR) at 13.67-12.20 MPa. Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) was 1,640.3-1,010.9 MPa and Internal Bonding (IB) was 0.63-0.42 MPa. The core residue was not at the standard of particleboard (flat press medium density) but passes the insulation board standard. Acoustic absorption of KeR, KeM and HeM were 22.63, 22.34 and 23.56%, respectively. The core residue from kenaf and hemp were able to form wood pellet and insulation board for value-added products. Furthermore, the economic evaluation of products from core residue should be investigated for actual industrial production.
Thitivara Poonsawat, Pachara Ritdet and Songklod Jarusombutti, 2016. Value-Added Products from Kenaf and Hemp Core Residue. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11: 2054-2058.