Waste Banana Peel Flour as a Filler in Plywood Binder

Abstract

Waste banana peel flour as a filler in plywood binder. Waste banana peel flour has gained attention as a potential filler in plywood binders due to its abundance, low cost, and positive environmental impact. Banana peels, which are typically discarded as waste, can be processed into flour and incorporated into plywood binders, offering several advantages. Firstly, banana peel flour acts as a natural filler, increasing the volume and reducing the amount of more expensive fillers required in plywood production. This can lead to cost savings without compromising the overall quality of the plywood. Secondly, banana peels contain a significant amount of cellulose and starch, which contributes to the strength and stability of the binder. The cellulose fibers present in the peel flour improve the adhesive's mechanical properties, enhancing the plywood's resistance to warping, bending, and cracking. Furthermore, banana peels are rich in phenolic compounds, such as tannins, which possess adhesive properties. These compounds can enhance the bonding strength between the veneer layers in plywood, resulting in improved overall structural integrity. Using waste banana peel flour as a filler in plywood binders also presents environmental benefits. By repurposing banana peels, which would otherwise end up in landfills, it reduces waste and promotes sustainability. The study aimed to investigate the influence of various contributions of banana peel flour in bonding mass on the properties of plywood produced with such an investigated binder. The following plywood features have been tested: modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity, bonding quality (shear strength and in-wood damage) and density profile. The achieved results have been referred to as the control plywood produced with regular, industrially composed bonding mass. The structure of banana peel has been characterized as well. The results have shown that waste banana peel flour can be a valuable replacement of commercially applied filler in plywood technology.