Twin-Screw Extrusion Process to Produce Renewable Fiberboards

A versatile twin-screw extrusion process to provide an efficient thermo-mechano-chemical pre-treatment on lignocellulosic biomass before using it as source of mechanical reinforcement in fully bio-based fiberboards was developed. Various crop by-products have already been successfully pre-treated through this process, e.g., cereal straws (especially rice), coriander straw, shives from oleaginous flax and bark both amaranth sunflower stems. The results a marked increase the average fiber aspect ratio, leading improved properties fiberboards. extruder can also be fitted with filtration module at end barrel. continuous extraction various chemicals (e.g., free sugars, hemicelluloses, volatiles essential oil fractions, etc.) substrate, refining can, therefore, performed simultaneously. used for its mixing ability: natural binder Organosolv lignins, protein-based oilcakes, starch, added refined fibers screw profile. obtained premix is ready molded hot pressing, contributing fiberboard cohesion. Such combined single pass improves production time, cost, may lead reduction plant size. Because all operations are step, morphology better preserved, thanks reduced residence time material inside extruder, resulting enhanced performances. one-step operation origin valuable industrial intensification. Compared commercial wood-based materials, these do not emit any formaldehyde, they could find applications, intermediate containers, furniture, domestic flooring, shelving, general construction, etc.