The difficulties of recycling MDF and particleboard waste have
resulted in large quantities of production waste and offcuts being sent to landfill sites.
Estimates show that around 1 million tonnes of MDF waste is generated each year from the
UK furniture industry alone. A laboratory-scale batch process reactor, with a capacity of
50kg, has been developed and patented by Fibresolve. This represents a breakthrough in
recycling technology with the first real opportunity to recycle coated MDF and
particleboard in large quantities. The Fibresolve process involves subjecting wood fibres
to a combination of vacuum and pressurised steam at temperatures of over 100° C. Low
pressures make this a relatively inexpensive process. Little or no additional chemicals
are involved so its environmental credentials are good.
To scale-up the prototype recovery reactor and to evaluate the
potential for using recovered fibre in new board production. This project aims to
industrialise the process by building a reactor capable of processing batches of 1 –
2 tonnes. The goal is to develop process reactors of 8 – 10 tonne capacity for use in
wood and general waste recycling centres and possibly also within the MDF manufacturing
industry.
Panels with varying levels of recovered and
virgin fibre will be produced and then tested with a view to optimising output for
furniture grade panels. Liquid run-off analysis and disposal options will form part of the
process assessment.
DTI
Timber Research and Development Association
TRADA Technology Ltd – Project management, panel assessment/testing and dissemination
Fibresolve Ltd – Technology providers, Patent owners of the Fibresolve process
Bio-Composites Centre – Wood fibre/chip analysis, liquid run-off analysis, test panel
manufacture
Parkwood Group – Waste managers and fibre processing
Urban Mines – Funding for market research conducted by Excelar
