Oil Palm Biomass for Composite Panels

S.M. Sapuan is a Professor (Grade “A”) of composite materials in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, at the Universiti Putra Malaysia. He is also Head of the Advanced Engineering Materials and Composites Research Centre (AEMC) at UPM. He attained his BEng in mechanical engineering from the University of Newcastle, in Australia and then went on to receive his MSc in engineering design and PhD in materials engineering, from De Montfort University in the UK. He is a Professional Engineer and a Fellow of many professional societies, including the Society of Automotive Engineers; the Academy of Science Malaysia; the International Society for Development and Sustainability; the World Academy of Sciences; the Plastic and Rubber Institute Malaysia (PRIM); the Malaysian Scientific Association and the Institute of Materials Malaysia. He is an Honorary Member and past Vice President of the Asian Polymer Association and Founding Chairman and Honorary Member of The Society of Sugar Palm Development and Industry, Malaysia. During the course of his career, he has produced over 2500 publications, including 989 journal papers, 68 books and 246 book chapters. M.T. Paridah is a Professor of Wood Adhesives and Finishing at the Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Malaysia. Prof. Paridah’s research has focused on natural fibre, wood adhesives and bonding, wood/fiber composites, and surface coating, and she has had extensive involvement in the wood-based sector, particularly in the area of biocomposites. Prof. Paridah has co-authored over 120 research papers, 26 book chapters, and a number of conference papers, as well as being involved in a number of consultancy projects for both government and industry. S.O.A. SaifulAzry is a Research Officer in the Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology (Biocomposite), Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. His research interests include wood composites, nanocellulose, and nano biocomposites, and he has published several articles on these topic areas. S.H. Lee is a senior lecturer in the Department of Wood Industries, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang Branch. He was a research fellow in the Laboratory of Biopolymer and Derivatives (BADs), Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia. His research interests include wood composites, wood treatments, wood adhesives, and polymers.

Part I: Background to oil palm biomass and wood-based panel products
1. Introduction to oil palm biomass
2. Basic properties of oil palm biomass
3. Biological durability and deterioration of oil palm biomass
4. Wood-based panel industries
5. Adhesives used in wood-based panels

Part II: Processing and treatment based on biomass type
6. Processing of oil palm trunk and lumber
7. Processing of oil palm veneer
8. Processing of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFBs)
9. Processing of oil palm fronds
10. Processing and treatment of other biomass types

Part III: Composite panel products and applications
11. Classification and application of composite panel products from oil palm biomass
12. Laminated veneer lumber
13. Plywood from oil palm biomass
14. Oriented strand board from oil palm biomass
15. Particleboard from oil palm biomass
16. Fiberboard from oil palm biomass
17. Blockboard from oil palm biomass
18. Other types of panels from oil palm biomass

Part IV: Current policy, environmental aspects, and economic prospects for oil palm biomass and composite panels
19.Policy and environmental aspects of oil palm biomass
20. Economic analysis and market of composite panels
21. Ownership structure for oil palm plantations in Malaysia
22. Optimization model of oil palm biomass supply