Gyu-Seong Han

Environmentally friendly wood preservatives formulated with enzymatic-hydrolyzed okara, copper and/or boron salts

Novel biocides, such as copper azole (CuAz) and ammoniacal copper quaternary (ACQ), are extensively used as substitutes for chromate copper arsenate (CCA) in wood preservation. However, the expense of these biocides has necessitated the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly wood preservatives. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness against decaying fungi of the preservatives formulated with enzymatic-hydrolyzed okara (OK), which is an organic waste produced from the manufacture of tofu, CuCl(2) (CC) and/or Na(2)B(4)O(7).10H(2)O (B). With the addition of NH(4)OH as a dissociating agent, the addition of OK facilitated the target retention of most of the OK/CC and OK/CC/B preservative formulations in wood blocks. The OK-based wood preservatives (OK-WPs) were stable against hot-water leaching. When compared with control and CC-treated wood blocks, the leached wood blocks treated with OK/CC and OK/CC/B formulations showed excellent decay resistance against both Postia placenta and Gloeophyllum trabeum, especially when OK was hydrolyzed by Celluclast at a loading level of 0.1 ml/g. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and SEM-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) spectrometry analyses demonstrated that preservative complexes, such as OK-CC and OK-CC-B, existed in the wood blocks treated with OK/CC and OK/CC/B formulations. This study results support the potential application of OK-WPs as environmentally friendly wood preservatives capable of replacing CuAz and ACQ.

Effects of Various Factors on the Durability of Pellets Fabricated with Larix kaempferi C. and Liriodendron tulipifera L. sawdust

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the effects of sawdust size and moisture content, pelletizing temperature and time on the durability of the pellets fabricated with larch and tulip tree sawdust. The durability of larch-pellet was significantly higher than that of tulip tree-pellet. For the larch-pellets, the durability of the pellets fabricated with > 18 mesh sawdust was higher than that of 8 ∼ 18 mesh sawdust. With the increases of pelletizing temperature and time, the durabilities of larch- and tulip tree-pellets steadily improved. The durabilities of larch- and tulip tree-pellets also increased as the moisture content of sawdust increased. In the comparison of durabilities between commercial pellets and larch- or tulip tree-pellets, the pellets fabricated with larch and tulip tree sawdusts in our study were less denser than commercial pellets, but the durability of most larch-pellets was satisfied with the 1st-grade pellet standard designated by Korea Forest Research Institute. In addition, the durability of tulip tree-pellets were higher than that of the 3rd-grade pellet standard. From the scanning electron microscopic observation of larch- and tulip tree-pellets, the gap between the sawdusts of each pellet was reduced with the increases of pelletizing temperature and time. In particular, it was visually confirmed that the surface of the pellets made with the pelletizing temperature of 180°C for 3 min did not differ from that of commercial pellets. Keywords : larch, tulip tree, pellet, durability, scanning electron microscope

Adhesive Properties of Medium-Density Fiberboards Fabricated with Rapeseed Flour-Based Adhesive Resins

This study examined the adhesive properties of adhesives formulated with rapeseed flour (RSF), a by-product of edible oil and bio-diesel manufacture, for medium-density fiberboards (MDFs). The RSF was hydrolyzed by sulfuric acid (AC-RSFH) and sodium hydroxide (AK-RSFH) solutions of 3%, 5%, and 7%. Phenol–formaldehyde (PF) prepolymers were prepared with formaldehyde to phenol molar ratios of 1.5, 1.8, and 2.1 (1.5-, 1.8-, and 2.1-PF). RSF-based adhesives were formulated by cross-linking 35% AC-RSFH, 35% AK-RSFH, and 30% PF prepolymers on a solid weight basis. The mechanical strength and dimensional stability of the MDFs were improved by decreasing the concentration of RSF-hydrolytic agents. The properties of the MDFs bonded with RSFH/1.8-PF resins were superior to those of RSFH/1.5- or 2.1-PF resins. These results suggest that RSF can be used as a raw material for environment-friendly adhesives used in MDF production.

Effect of the addition of binders on the fuel characteristics of wood pellets.

본 연구는 낙엽송과 백합나무 톱밥을 이용한 펠릿의 제조 과정에서 바인더로 일정량의 유채박, 커피부산물,수피, 솔방울, 리그닌 분말을 첨가하여 바인더의 종류 및 첨가량이 내구성을 포함한 펠릿의 품질에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 수행하였다. 바인더와 함께 제조한 펠릿의 품질은 국립산림과학원에서 고시한 목재 펠릿 품질 규격 1등급 기준을 대부분 상회하였으며, 일부 과다한 양의 바인더를 첨가하여 제조한 펠릿에서만 높은 회분함량으로 2~3등급 기준을 만족하는 것으로 조사되었다. 바인더 종류 및 첨가량에 따른 펠릿의 내구성은 리그닌,유채박 그리고 커피부산물을 첨가하여 제조한 펠릿에서 우수하였으며, 백합나무 펠릿은 첨가량의 증가와 함께 내구성도 향상되었다. 한편 낙엽송 펠릿의 경우 첨가량의 증가에 따른 내구성 향상 효과는 크지 않았으며, 수피와 솔방울을 바인더로 사용하였을 때 첨가량의 증가와 함께 내구성이 감소하였다. 제조된 펠릿의 광학/전자현미경 관찰을 통하여 바인더의 종류에 따른 차이를 명확하게 확인할 수 없었으나, 첨가량에 따른 차이는 명확하게 관찰 할 수 있었다. 결과를 종합하면, 바인더의 첨가는 목재 펠릿의 품질 향상에 대부분의 항목에서 기여하였으며, 특히 커피부산물을 바인더로 사용하여 제조한 펠릿의 경우 모든 품질에서 뚜렷한 향상을 확인할 수 있었다. 향후 저렴한 바인더의 안정적인 확보가 이루어진다면 바인더의 첨가로 인하여 연료적 품질이 향상된 목재 펠릿의 상용화가 가능할 것으로 확신한다.

Fuel characteristics of agropellets fabricated with rice straw and husk

Our aim was to identify the potential of rice straw (RS) and rice husk (RH) as raw materials for pellet production. Compared to woody biomass, RS and RH can be easily dried, but contain significant levels of ash. Higher heating values of oven-dried RS and RH are slightly lower than those of commercial wood pellets. RS and RH contain substantially more silicon, potassium and calcium than larch sawdust. However, ash and moisture contents of RS was significantly reduced following a 15-week exposure period on rice paddy. These results suggest that RS and RH present suitable alternatives to wood as raw materials for pellet production due to their availability, relatively high calorific value and low moisture content. The durability of RS and RH pellets improved steadily with increasing pelletizing temperature and time. Pelletization under appropriate conditions also enabled the durability and bulk density of RS and RH to be improved, enhancing their potential as alternative combustion fuels.

Preliminary study of rapeseed flour-based wood adhesives for making wood flooring.

Adhesives derived from renewable resources allow wood panel producers to make lower cost alter- natives to formaldehyde-based adhesive resins. Among them, adhesive components extracted from in- dustrial by-products or wastes are the most important research fields in the efficient utilization of waste and cost reduction. In our study, the rapeseed flour, which is a by product from the production of bio- diesel extracted from rapeseed, was introduced to develop alternative adhesives for the production of wood flooring. The rapeseed flour was hydrolyzed with 1% sodium hydroxide solution and PF prepolymers were prepared with 3-molar ratios, 1.8, 2.1 and 2.4. The linear fracture mechanics was introduced to evaluate the glue bond quality in wood flooring composed of fancy-veneered and plywood, and the formaldehyde emission and adhesive penetration were also investigated. The formaldehyde emissions of wood flooring met the requirement of the standard of SE0 specified in the KS standard. The rapeseed flour adhesive pe- netrated sufficiently into the vessel elements and lumens in fancy veneer and plywood and gave strong bond quality to the wood flooring. The fracture mechanics was introduced to evaluate the adhesive joint between fancy veneer and plywood. The critical stress intensity factor (KIC) of boliva overlayed wood flooring was increased with increasing molar ratio and this was the same tendency in oak overlayed wood flooring. From the results, the formulated adhesives were efficiently used to bond fancy veneer onto the plywood to make wood flooring and showed a potential to be used as a component of environmentally friendly adhesive resin systems for production of flooring.

Adhesive and curing properties of chicken feather/blood-based adhesives for the fabrication of medium-density fiberboards

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the adhesive properties of chicken feather (CF)-based adhesives for wood-based panels. CF was hydrolysed in sodium hydroxide solutions of 5%, 7.5% and 10% (CF-AK). Chicken blood (CB) hydrolysed in sulfuric acid solution of 5% (CB-AC) was used as a hardener. The adhesives were formulated by crosslinking 60% CF-AK, 10% CB-AC and 30% formaldehyde-based crosslinking agents (formalin, melamine-urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde prepolymers) on a solid weight basis. The CF-based adhesives were very viscous at room temperature, but the viscosity at 50 °C ranged from 300 to 600 mPa·s resulting in a sprayable adhesive. From the DSC analysis, the use of CF-AK-10% in the CF-based adhesives need longer curing time compared with that of CF-AK-5%. Most mechanical strength properties and dimensional stability of MDF bonded with CF-based adhesives were similar to those of commercial urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. However, internal bonding strength of most MDF bonded with CF-based adhesives was higher than that with the UF resin. Most adhesive properties of the MDF manufactured with the new CF adhesive met the Korean Standard requirements for interior MDF. These results suggest that CF and/or CB can be used as raw materials for environment-friendly adhesives for producing wood panels.

Evaluating The Water Resistance of Wood Adhesives Formulated with Chicken Feather Produced from Poultry Industry

본 연구는 주원료로 도계부산물인 닭털의 NaOH 가수분해물, 경화제로 닭털의 H2SO4 가수분해물 및 폼알데히드계가교제를 반응시켜 접착제를 제조하고, 이에 대한 물성 및 내수성 실험을 통하여 닭털의 목질계 판상재용 접착제의 원료화 가능성을 확인하기 위하여 수행하였다. 닭털은 주로 케라틴계 단백질로 구성되어 있었으며, 중금속의 함유량이 매우 낮거나 검출되지 않았다. 알칼리에 대한 닭털의 가수분해율은 수용액 내의 NaOH 농도가 증가함에 따라 계속 증가하였으나, 과도한 가수분해에 따른 단백질 고유의 접착능 손실을 최소화하고 적정한 가수분해 조건을 찾기 위하여 닭털의 가수분해제 내의 NaOH 농도를 5%, 7.5%, 10%로 결정하였다. 접착제의 조성을 보면, 고형분 함량을 기준으로 70%의 닭털 NaOH 가수분해물 또는/그리고 경화제로 닭털의 H2SO4 가수분해물 및 30%의 가교제로 조제하였는데, 이접착제의 고형분 함량은 가수분해 조건 및 가교제의 종류에 따라 28.3 - 44.8% 범위에 존재하였다. 이 접착제의 점도는 상온에서 전반적으로 높았으나, 50℃에서 측정한 결과 분사형 접착제로서 적용이 가능한 것으로 조사되었다. 접착제의 내수성을 비교하기 위하여 측정된 열수 불용해율은 5% 농도의 NaOH 수용액에서 반응시킨 닭털의 알칼리 가수분해물(CF-AK-5%)에 경화제로 5% 농도의 H2SO4 수용액에서 반응시킨 닭털의 산가수분해물(CF-AC-5%)을 고형분함량 기준 10% 이상 첨가하여 제조하고 경화시킨 접착제에서 높았다. 또한 접착제 제조시 고형분 함량을 기준으로 30%가 첨가된 가교제별 열수 불용해율은 phenol-formaldehyde (PF), melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF), formalin 순으로 조사되었다. 닭털 접착제의 열수 불용해율을 섬유판 제조에 사용되고 있는 석유화학계 합성수지와 비교한 결과, CF-AC-5%에 가교제로 PF를 그리고 경화제로 CF-AC-5%를 첨가하여 조제한 접착제는 기존 멜라민-요소수지의 열수불용해율과 통계학적으로 차이가 없었으며, 가교제로 PF를 사용한 모든 접착제와 고형분 함량을 기준으로 55%의 CF-AK-5%, 15%의 CF-AC-5% 그리고 가교제로 30%의 MUF와 함께 제조한 접착제는 기존 요소수지를 대체할 수 있는 것으로 조사되었다. 이 결과를 토대로 적정한 조건에서 가수분해한 닭털은 목질계 판상재용 접착제의 원료로 사용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

Effect of Torrefaction Condition on The Chemical Composition and Fuel Characteristics of Larch wood

This study was conducted to investigate the potential of torrefied larch wood as a raw material of pellets. First of all, larch chip was torrefied at the temperatures of 230, 250 and 270℃ for 30, 50 and 70 min. Secondly, moisture content, moisture absorption, higher heating value and ash content of the torrefied chip were measured to examine the

Evaluation Methods of Flame Retardants for Wooden Cultural Properties

2,† ⋅Gyu-Seong Han 3 ABSTRACT Wooden cultural heritages of Korea have been destroyed by fire in many cases. As a result, a number of methods to protect wooden cultural properties against fire were introduced. A way of protecting wooden cultural properties in- stallations of fire equipments such as sprinkler, fire alarm system, or fire extinguisher. Another way of protecting wooden cultural properties is to treat them with flame retardants for their safety. Development of a very effective flame retardant with a good performance without affecting danchung and wood quality is required. At the same time, methods of evaluating flame retardant treated woods should be devised to assess their efficacy. In this study, combus- tion characteristics using cone-calorimeter, limit oxygen index, moisture absorption, iron corrosive and weathering were analyzed to evaluate the flame resistance efficacy and performance of flame retardants treated woods. The evaluation methods of flame retardants for wooden cultural heritage were suggested.