Properties of Eco-Friendly Oriented Strand Board Produced from Oil Palm Trunk.

Despite its considerable potential, oil palm trunk (OPT) remains underutilized, largely owing to the cyclical replanting process that occurs every 25–30 years. This study aimed to address this issue by developing an eco-friendly oriented strand board (OSB) using vascular bundles (VBs) from oil palm, both in binderless form and with the incorporation of natural adhesives made from sucrose and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP). The VB was extracted from OPT using a pressure cooker and mixed with a sucrose-ADP solution at various ratios. The mixture was then pressed at temperatures of 180°C and 200°C for 10 min to form boards, which were evaluated based on the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) A 5908 for particleboards. Binderless OSB was also manufactured without the use of any adhesive components. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was conducted to evaluate the VB and its board. The results indicated that the mechanical properties of the binderless OSB met the JIS A 5908 Type 8 requirements. Furthermore, the addition of sucrose-ADP improved the physical and mechanical properties of the board, with an optimal sucrose-to-ADP ratio of 85:15. The OSB with the best properties met the JIS A 5908 Type 13 requirements. The FTIR results indicated that carbonyl groups, furan rings, and lignin played important roles in the bonding properties of the OSB. In conclusion, this research demonstrated the potential of VBs as a raw material for producing environmentally friendly OSB, both in binderless form and with the use of sucrose-ADP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]