Fiberboards Made from Corn Stalk Thermomechanical Pulp and Kraft Lignin as a Green Adhesive

Abstract

The feasibility of incorporating purified kraft lignin, at different concentrations ranging from 5 to 29%, into fiberboards made from corn residues was studied. The lignin was obtained from black liquor, which is a residue of the paper industry. Corn stalk raw material and its thermomechanically produced fiber were characterized in terms of their chemical composition. The physical and mechanical properties of the resulting fiberboards were evaluated. The fiberboards produced following a wet process had good mechanical and water resistance properties that satisfied the requirements of the relevant standards. In addition, a Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) approach suggested that lignin-based fiberboards are environmentally preferable than those based on thermosetting resins.

Keywords

• Corn residues; Thermomechanical pulp; Kraft lignin; Green adhesive; Mechanical properties; Life cycle thinking