Incorporation of water treatment plant sludge in wood-based particleboard manufacturing

A typical water treatment plant (WTP) produces about 200,000 m3 of sludge per day and this amount is expected to increase. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of WTP sludge in wood-based particleboard manufacturing, and the effect of temperature (110 degrees C and 160 degrees C) and time (7 and 12 min) of pressing on physical and mechanical properties of particleboard made from WTP sludge and wooden particles. Wood particles were replaced by WTP sludge at percentages of 0 and 20% and two ranges of particles sizes (0.08 mm < d < 2.0 mm and 0.08 mm < d < 9.5 mm). These WTP sludge-based particleboard types were bonded with resin (12%), and they were tested for density modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, thickness swelling and water absorption resin type. According to the results obtained, the agglomerated wood panel manufactured was classified as low density, this type of panel being able to be applied in insulation. Thus, incorporation of WTP sludge into particleboards is a promising alternative of final disposal for this residue, collaborating with the environment.