Formaldehyde and VOC emissions from plywood panels bonded with bio-oil phenolic resins

Abstract Pyrolysis bio-oil was used to partially substitute for phenol in reacting with formaldehyde for the production of bio-oil phenol formaldehyde plywood (BPFP) panels, with the phenol substitution ratio being 20%, 40%, or 60%. Emissions of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the BPFP panels were studied using solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) followed by headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and were compared to those from the phenol formaldehyde plywood (PFP) panels. The sources for VOCs were analyzed, and the health risks associated with the BPFP were examined. Results showed that at 80 °C: (1) Formaldehyde emissions from the BPFP panels were increased to about 4 times that of PFP; (2) VOCs emissions were significantly reduced by up to 84.9% mainly due to the greatly reduced phenol emissions, although the total number of VOCs was increased from 20 to 35; (3) BPFP presents greatly increased carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks because of its much stronger emissions of formaldehyde, N,N-dimethylformamide, benzofuran, furfural, and many chemicals from the bio-oil. It is highly advisable that the health risks are properly taken care of before the wide application of BPFP, or similar bio-oil based engineered wood products.