Press volatile organic compound emissions as a function of wood particleboard processing parameters

A laboratory method was developed to evaluate the effects of key wood parti cleboard processing parameters on hot-press emissions of volatile organic c ompounds (VOCs). The method was based on an enclosed caul plate system that trapped the gas stream containing the VOCs emitted during board pressing. The hot gases trapped in the caul plate were cleaned through cold traps con taining distilled water or organic solvent for non-water-soluble chemicals, in order to condense and trap VOCs from the air stream. Formaldehyde was q uantified through the chromotropic acid method (NIOSH modified method), whi le methanol was quantified by gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID). Other VOCs were characterized and quantified by gas chromatograp hy/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Formaldehyde emissions as well as methanol, p henol, and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) emissions, which consiste d mainly of terpenes, increased with platen temperature, pressing time, and mat resin solids contents. Conversely, subsequent emissions from the panel s themselves decreased when processing parameters such as resin content, pr essing time, and pressing temperature were increased. Furnish composition i n terms of softwood:hardwood ratio and mat moisture content significantly a ffected press emissions in terms of both nature and amount of chemicals emi tted, but further work needs to be conducted to support these partial resul ts.