Effects of utilizing olive pits and waste melamine-impregnated paper in particleboard manufacturing on board properties

The demand for wood and wood-based products continues to rise steadily with the growth of the global population. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, and oriented strand board (OSB) are among the most sought-after materials. This increasing demand necessitates the more rational and sustainable utilization of forest resources. This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing core layer particles with olive pit residues in particleboard production on the boards’ physical properties. Additionally, waste melamine-impregnated paper (MIP), a by-product of the wood-based panel industry, was evaluated as an adhesive to determine its impact when combined with olive pits in particleboard production. Olive pits were incorporated into the core layer in five different proportions, and MIP was used exclusively as an adhesive at a fixed ratio of 25%. The particleboards' physical and mechanical properties were analyzed per the relevant TS EN standards. The results indicated that while the incorporation of olive pit residues improved the physical properties of the boards, a decline in their mechanical properties was observed. Consequently, it was concluded that blending olive pit residues with conventional core layer particles would be a more suitable approach rather than using them as a sole replacement.