Abstract:
This research aimed to develop an environmentally friendly particleboard
made from agricultural residues of cannabis cultivation and to evaluate the products
carbon footprint. The waste materials used in the study consisted of five types: branch
without fiber (BN), branch with fiber (BF), large branch mixed with stem (ST), root
without fiber (RN), and root with fiber (RF). The boards were fabricated using isocyanate
adhesive at 8%, 10%, and 12% by dry weight. Each board was designed to achieve a
target density of 500 kg/m³, with dimensions of 30 × 30 × 1 cm. The panels were hot
pressed at 130 °C for 10 minutes and tested according to the Thai Industrial Standard
(TIS 35532566). The results showed that the particleboards had densities ranging from
500 to 650 kg/m³, classifying them as medium-density boards. The moisture content
ranged between 2.8% and 4.0%, which is suitable for practical use. The board
produced from fiber-rich branches (BF) with 10% adhesive (BF10) achieved the highest
modulus of elasticity of 3,100 MPa and the highest modulus of rupture of 23.91 MPa,
clearly meeting the standard requirement. In contrast, boards made from non-fibrous
roots (RN) exhibited a flexural strength lower than the minimum standard (13 MPa).
Thickness swelling decreased as the adhesive proportion increased, while both internal
bonding and flexural strength improved accordingly. The carbon footprint assessment
indicated total greenhouse gas emissions of 24.69 kg CO₂-equivalent per kilogram of
product. The main emission source was identified as the material grinding process
powered by a diesel engine