Scope of Medium density fiberboard (MDF) from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume IV, Issue X, October 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Scope of Medium density fiberboard (MDF) from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

S. A. Hasan¹, Md. NajmusSayadat Pitol^2*, M. I. Shams³, M. O. Hannan^{4
12 3 4}Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna- 9208, Bangladesh
²Mangrove Silviculture Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Khulna.

ABSTRACT
In this study medium density fiberboard (MDF) were manufactured from water hyacinth(Eichorniacrassipes), the world’s worst aquatic weeds. The produced fiberboard showed better performance in case of physical and mechanical properties and satisfied ANSI, IS, AS/NZS standards. The thickness swelling and water absorption of the board were 48.41% and 71.03% respectively. Modulus of elasticity (MOE) and Modulus of rupture (MOR) of the board were 3135 MPa and 31.25 MPa respectively. It seemed that the water hyacinth fiberboard may be a cheap, durable and sustainable material that can substitute timber and also reveal a new path of wise utilization of these aggressive weeds simultaneously.

Keywords: Absorption, density, fiberboard, moisture, strength.

INTRODUCTION

In Bangladesh water hyacinth is known as tagar, shaola locally. It is one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds. It has a lot of negative impact like blockage of fishing grounds, transport routes, eliminate native aquatics plants, reduce the gas exchange capacity of the surface water and increase in waterborne diseases [1, 2]. Besides the management and removal of the weeds are expensive[3]. In spite of these negative effects it has some beneficial use like- use as animal fodder, compost and mulch product, fuel, rope making, household ornamental purpose etc. Under favorable conditions water hyacinth can achieve a growth rate of 17.5 metric tons per hectare per day [4]. It is doubling its population every 5–15days and producing up to 140 million daughter plants annually[5, 6]. Sometimes it is used in fodder or producing compost manure. But this proportion is very little and has generally no commercial use. So a vast portion of water hyacinth remains unused, rather it creates different problems for the water body. For this reason water hyacinth can play a vital role for a vast source of lingo-cellulosic material especially in Bangladesh.

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