Chalmers Conferences, LCM 2013

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF NEW BIO-HARDBOARDS USING A LACCASE ACTIVATED SYSTEM
Sara González-García, Gumersindo Feijoo, Carol Heathcote, Andreas Kandelbauer, Teresa Moreira

Last modified: 2014-09-11

Abstract


The use of petroleum-based resins in wood panels manufacture involves negative environmental effects mainly related to formaldehyde emissions. The substitution of these resins by formaldehyde free adhesives is proposed in this study. The environmental profile of a bio-hardboard formulated with a wood-based phenolic material and a phenol-oxidizing enzyme has been evaluated following the Life Cycle Assessment methodology and compared with those from the conventional process where phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin is used as base adhesive.
The results indicate that the bio-hardboards meet the specifications of hardboards produced with the conventional process. The substitution of the PF resin by the bio-resin improves the environmental profile with reductions in both greenhouse gases and photochemical oxidants emissions. Special attention must be paid on the energy requirements of laccase production, which entails acidifying and eutrophying emissions.

Keywords


fibreboard; LCA; laccase; lignosulfonate; wet process

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