Volatile organic compounds emissions from radiata pine MDF as a function of pressing variables

This research was performed to investigate the effects of press temperature, press time, and resin content on the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde during the pressing of radiata pine medium density fiberboard (MDF). To statistically quantify the amount of total VOCs (TVOCs) and formaldehyde according to pressing conditions, this experiment was designed using a central composite design. Detected VOCs were pentanal, hexanal, α-pinene, β-pinene, octanal, heptane, borneol, heptadecane, and octadecane. The most prominent factor affecting the emissions of TVOCs was pressing temperature, followed by pressing time. Resin content appeared to have no effect on TVOC emissions although it was the most important factor influencing formaldehyde emissions. The TVOC emissions appeared to proportionally increase with press temperature and press time. The TVOC emissions showed a linear response with the emission of any individual VOC. This technique offers a potential way to predict TVOC emissions from any individual VOC emission.