STEAM TREATED RICE INDUSTRY RESIDUES AS AN ALTERNATIVE FEEDSTOCK FOR THE WOOD-BASED PARTICLEBOARD INDUSTRY IN ITALY

The SADEPAN CHIMICA Srl is an Italian corporation of the Mario Saviola Group which has been dedicated to the processing of wood and chemical resins since 1963. The company is developing novel chemical solutions and is engaged in exporting technology and know-how. The Italian Nati onal Agency for New Technology, Energy and Environment (ENEA) conducts research, development and testing on novel technologies and equipment , and it transfers the results to industry and agriculture. SADEPAN CH IMICA Srl and ENEA have signed an agreement for new steam explosion pr ocess applications. Considering that some facilities of the Saviola Gr oup are located in northern Italy, where large quantities of rice husk and straw are available, a research project has been developed which examines the possibility to use those biomass resources for the produc tion of boards or chemicals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.