Abstract

A large quantities of rice husk in Sto. Niño rice milling industry poses a serious

environmental health hazards. Rice husk as particle board is one of such materials which

may be considered a potential substituent for wood based board products this study

presents an experimental work which investigates the potentiality of rice husk in the

production of particleboards using white glue as an alternative source of adhesive and

benzaldehyde as disinfectant. The use of white glue, as a cheaper alternative reduced

the use of more expensive petroleum based resources. The test results that showed that

the rice husk, benzaldehyde, and white glue combination provide high potential to be

used in the production of particleboard.

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 CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Background of the Study

The modern society, with its high population density, sophisticated industries and

intensive methods of agriculture, produces wastes in an increasing scale (Antoniolli et.al.

2009). Since the basic principles of particleboard production is that any lignocellusic

material may be used as raw material, the utilization of wastes in those industries may be

interesting alternative from both economic and environment points of view. Materials such

as rice husk must be example of lignocellolosic resources to substitute wood in

particleboard production. This practice ensures value adding to those materials and

prevents their improper polluting disposal.

Rice growing nation all over the world face monumental problems on disposal of

rice husk waste, which is a serious environmental hazard, if it is burnt. The researchers

discovered that the properties of rice husk make them perfect for inclusion in material like

particleboards, where it is less costly, more environmentally friendly and resistant

alternative to particleboard.

Rice husk is compose of high silica content that makes it useful for strengthening

building materials which gives the durability of particleboard. In addition, rice husk high

durability, low bulk density, toughness, abrasive in nature, resistance to weathering and

unique composition.

With these study, the researchers want to determine if rice husk can be used as

an alternative particleboards and useful to students, office workers, teachers and etc.

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Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to make an alternative particle board from the

rice husk that is cheap, renewable, environment-friendly and indigenous.

Specifically, the study sought to:

1. Determine the durability of rice husk in making an alternative particleboard.

2. Determine the differences of rice husk particleboard from the commercial

products.

Statements of the Problem

This study sought to answer the following questions:

1. How to make a particleboard from rice husk?

2. What is the durability of rice in making a particleboard?

Hypotheses

(Alternative hypotheses)

1. There is a possibility that can make a particleboard from rice husk (hulls).

2. There is an effectivity of rice husk to make a particleboard.

(Null hypothesis)

1. There is no possibility that can’t make a particleboard from rice husk (hulls).

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Significance of the Study

This study is an utmost important to discover a new develop material to make an

alternative particleboard from rice husk that is cheap, renewable, environment-friendly

and indigenous. This study is an attempt to prove that rusk husk is a useful and efficient

material in creating a particle board.

Rice husks are abundant in the milling of rice, hence, creating excessive waste in

the process. One appealing property of rice husk is water resistance, thus it has less

tendency to degrade. And along with its accessibility, its versatility in the combination with

adhesives creates a particleboard that is cheap, abundant and effective.

Scope and Limitations

The scope of this study is limited to find out the usefulness and durability of

particleboard coming from rice husk through of its high availability, low bulk density (90-

150 kg/), toughness, abrasive in nature, resistance to weathering and unique

composition. The main components in rice husk are silica, cellulose and lignin.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Particleboard- a type of board made by gluing together very small pieces of wood.

Durability- staying strong and good condition over a long period of time.

Lignin- an amorphous polymer related to cellulose that provides rigidity and together with

cellulose forms that woody cell walls of plants and thee cementing material between them.

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 Rice Husk- are hard protecting coverings of grains of rice. In addition to protecting rice

during growing season, rice hulls can be put to use as building material, fertilizer insulation

material, or fuel. Rice hulls are part of the chaff of the rice.

Silica- a chemical that contains silicon that is found in sand and quartz, and that is used

to make glass.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Independent Variable: Controlled Variable: Dependent Variable:

 Amount of rice husk  White Glue  Effectiveness of rice

husk as a particleboard

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 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

In this chapter, basic properties; composition of rice husk, in various industries

have been discussed.

Rice Husk

Rice husk is the by product in rice milling operation with an approximately 20% of the

total weight of the paddy grain being processed. Rice husk can be used in the production

of roofing tiles used in homes construction industries started that the harvested rice kernel

known as paddy is enclosed by the hull or husk otherwise called Rice Husk.

The reason behind the use of rice husk in the construction industry are its high

availability, low bulk density (90-150 kg/m³), toughness, abrassive, in nature, resistance

to weathering unique composition. The main components of silica in amorphous

crystalline (quartz) forms. The pressence if amorphous silica determines the pazzolanic

effect of rice husk. Pazzolanic effect exhibits cementitious properties that increase the

rate at which are the materials gains strenght. (Abayomi et al., 2015).

The benefits of rice husk include: It’s high silica content makes it useful for

strengthening building materials; it resists fungal decomposition; It resists moisture

penetration; It decomposes slowly; It insulates well; It’s renewable (Cadora, 2016).

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Properties of Rice Husk

Rice husk is a potential material, which is amenable for value addition. The usage

of rice husk either in its raw form or in ash form is many. Most of the husk from the milling

is either burnt or dumped as waste in open fields and a small amount is used as fuel for

boilers, electricity generation, bulking agents for composting of animal manure, etc

(Bronzeoak, 2003; Asavapisit and Ruengrit, 2005).

The exterior of rice husk is composed of dentate rectangular elements, which

themselves are composed mostly of silica coated with a thick cuticle and surface hairs.

The mid region and inner epidermis contain little silica (Bronzeoak, 2003). Jauberthie et

al., (2000) confirmed that the presence of amorphous silica is concentrated at the

surfaces of the rice husk and not within the husk itself.

Composition of Rice Husk

The reason behind the use of rice husk in the construction industry are its high

availability, low bulk density (90-150 kg/), toughness, abrasive in nature, resistance to

weathering and unique composition. The main components in rice husk are silica,

cellulose and lignin.

Rice husk contains high concentration of silica in amorphous and crystalline

(quartz) forms. The presence of amorphous silica determines the pozzolanic effect of rice

husk. Pozzolanic effect exhibits cementitious properties that increase the rate at which

the materials gain strength. The extent of the strength developments depends upon the

chemical composition of the alumina and silica in the material. The external surface of the

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husk contains high concentration of amorphous silica which decreases inwards and is

practically non-existent within the husk.

Particleboard

The particleboards have many desirable properties such as high density, high

surface hardness, abrassion resistance, high durability etc. Influence of Board density

and particle sizes can obtain better physical and mechanical properties. Physical and

mechanical properties differed significantly according to the board types. The relationship

between board properties and manufacturing variables were complicated by various

board densities and various kinds and combinations of wood species, raw material forms

and processing methods. Particleboard is commonly used for cabinetry, tabletops,

shelving, wall and floor panels, doors, furniture, and other non-structural architectural

applications.

Particleboards are produced from municipal solid waste agro-waste materials such

as rice husk, jute sticks, waste wood, sugarcane wastes and kitchen waste etc. Many

materials are also used for the preparation of Particleboard. These materials include's

bark, sawdust and shaving, wheat straw, waste wood chips, Rice straw, Waste paper,

Bamboo waste, Kenaf particles, Mixture of Baggase and industrial wood particles, Water

melon peels.

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Rice Husk Boards

Various types of board can be produced from rice husk. These by-products include

particleboards, insulation, boards, ceiling boards and cork board.

RELATED STUDIES

A. FOREIGN STUDIES

According to the study of Temitope, Onaopemipo, Olawale, Abayomi (2015) entitled

"Recycling of Rice Husk into a Locally-Made Water-Resistant Particleboard", conducted

an experimental work due to the large quantity of rice milling industries in Nigeria. They

investigated the qualification of rice husk as a raw material in manufacturing particle

boards. Their goal is to produce a particleboard with less water absorption and to use a

renewable resource such as rice husk. Starch, wood, and glue are used as an alternative

adhesive. The study discussed the composition of rice husk in relation to its utilization,

Production of particleboards using traditional and classical method, and the role of

adhesives in particleboard production.

Rice husks were gathered from local rice milling industries in Laka Area, Ogbomoso,

Oyo State where the rice husks are readily found in large quantities. Then were placed

directly under sun to dehydrate the rice husk for two days. It was sieved to two degrees

of fineness.

The study concluded that rice husk waste can be used in the production of

particleboard. The utilization of starch a biodegradable adhesive lessens the use of

expensive synthetic adhesive. The test results proved that rice husk can be used in

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fabrication of a water resistant particleboard tropical area like Nigeria with long raining

season.

In the study of Asha (2017) discussed how to produce particleboards from rice husk.

In preparation of particleboard, the material used for the fabrication of Mould is mild steel

material (is about 250mm × 250mm). For manufacturing of spacer is mild steel, the

thickness of the spacer is 5mm. Resin of about 200ml is used for each board to be

obtained in the size of 250mm × 250mm × 5mm. The first step is, grinding the rice husk

in the particle size. The rice husk is ground by using ball milling machine. Then, the

obtained fine particles are screened using the fine sieve. It is done to avoid swelling of

rice husk. Then about 20% of rice husk (i.e.) 20g are weighed in a weighing machine. The

measured rice husk is added slowly into the container containing the resin with constant

stirring. The mixture is stirred until it is uniformly mixed. Then a slight pressure is applied

on mould by manual pressing (or) by placing weights above the mould. The setting time

for the mixture inside the mould is be around 10 hours. After 10 hours, the mould is

carefully removed and the board is obtained.

B. LOCAL STUDIES

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 CHAPTER 3

Methodology

Gathering of Materials

The materials that are used in this study are the rice husk, merthiolate, and white

glue.

Preparing the Equipment

For experimental procedure of the study, the equipment used are the caldron,

weighing scale, strainer and mortar and pestle.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 3. 1. Images of the (a) caldron, (b) weighing scale, (c) strainer and (d) mortar and

pestle.

Roasting, Pulverizing, and Straining

The researchers gathered rice husk at a rice mill in Sto. Niño, San Agustin, Surigao

del Sur. The white glue and merthiolate will be bought in the department store. Results of

these process are shown in Figure 3.2. The rice husk was roasted. The roasted rice husk

was then crushed and pulverized using mortar and pestle. The researchers made sure

that the particle of the pulverized rice husk was small as possible through straining.

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 (a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 3.2. Examples of (a) collected rice husk, (b)roasted, (c) crushed, (d) strained rice

husk used in this study.

Mixing all the Ingredient

The 150 mL water is poured to the caldron, after several seconds add the ½ kg.

pulverized rice husk and mixed it with the ½ kg. white glue, when the mixture was

consistent 25 mL merthiolate (bensal konium chloride) is then added. The results of these

processes are shown in Figure 3.3.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 3.3. Examples of (a) poured water, (b)poured rice husk, (c)adding glue and (d)

merthiolate on how mixing all the ingredients are used in the study.

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 FLOW CHART OF THE STUDY

Gathering of Rice Husk

Roasting

Pulverizing

Straining

Mixing all the ingredients

Air-drying

Figure 3. Flow diagram of the whole study

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Methodology

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 CHAPTER 4

Results and Discussions

At the first attempt, the adhesive used was starch and water instead of white glue

with lesser pulverization to the husk, and without the use of any disinfectants. The test

results showed that the mixture exceeded the time expected to dry, and bacterial/fungal

buildup was observed, causing bad smell to the mixture.

The second attempt used white glue as adhesive and merthiolate as disinfectant.

Due to the quick drying property of the white glue along with the disinfectant, the mixture

dried on the expected timeline, with minimal bacterial buildup (Bacterial buildup not

exceeding the limit to impose hazard). The resulting consistencies to the hardness and

density, as well as overall quality are satisfactory.

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 CHAPTER 5

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

Summary

This study entitled “The Durability of Rice Husk used as Material in making an

Alternative Particleboard” aimed to develop a particleboard from rice husk. Rice husk is

produced in milling operation with approximately 20% of the total weight of the paddy

grain being processed and contains high concentration of silica in amorphous and

crystalline form. The presence of the white glue and merthiolate which serve the rice husk

consistent in quality and high water resistant.

Conclusions

Finally, a long day of researches, experimentation, and finding, the researchers’

quest to discover a new material develop by rice husk in making an alternative

particleboard which is low cost, environment friendly, and non-toxic. Rice husk was used

to engineer alternative particleboard with minimal cost.

The result suggest that the water resistance property along with the use of

adhesive such as white glue create an excellent candidate for an alternative particle

board.

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Recommendations

The presented research work was focused to rice husk extracted from rice milling

industry along with the use of white glue and merthiolate (bensal konium chloride). After

critical review and analysis of the results, the researcher offers the following

recommendation:

a. Rice husk used for architectural purposes

b.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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 Appendices

List of Figures

Figure 3. 1. Images of the (a) caldron, (b) weighing scale, (c) strainer and (d) mortar and

pestle.

Figure 3.2. Examples of (a) collected rice husk, (b)roasted, (c) crushed, (d) strained rice

husk used in this study.

Figure 3.3. Examples of (a) poured water, (b)poured rice husk, (c)adding glue and (d)

merthiolate on how mixing all the ingredients are used in the study.

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 Appendices

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 3. 1. Images of the (a) caldron, (b) weighing scale, (c) strainer and (d) mortar and

pestle.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 3.2. Examples of (a) collected rice husk, (b)roasted, (c) crushed, (d) strained rice

husk used in this study.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 3.3. Examples of (a) poured water, (b)poured rice husk, (c)adding glue and (d)

merthiolate on how mixing all the ingredients are used in the study.

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