Valorization of corn cob and sugarcane bagasse as sustainable raw materials for particleboard production

Abstract This project investigates particleboard development using agricultural waste of corncob and sugarcane bagasse as the base raw materials. The need for alternative base materials has become increasingly substantial due to the growing demand for manufactured wood products and the reduction in deforestation. In this work, the raw materials were subjected to drying, grinding, and mixing with urea-formaldehyde resin before being pressed under controlled heat and pressure to produce particleboards. Three different formulations were prepared by varying the proportions of corncob and sugarcane bagasse, while maintaining constant levels of wood dust, adhesive, and additive. Visual observation and physical assessment using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed clear differences in compactness and structural uniformity among the board formulations. Particleboard B demonstrated a modulus of rupture 1.91 times greater than that of Particleboard A, indicating enhanced mechanical strength and improved bonding characteristics. This result confirms that particleboard produced from corncob and sugarcane bagasse is a suitable candidate for classification as Particleboard Type P1 (General Purpose) under the EN 312 standard. This finding provides greater sustainability and cost advantages for producing fiber-based particleboard.