Properties of Thermo-Mechanically and Steam-Treated Recycled Wood Fibers from Post-Consumer Waste and Processing Residues

Engineered wood products like medium-density fiberboard (MDF) are widely used in furniture and construction due to their low cost and ease of processing, with production steadily increasing along with the waste. This research investigates the characteristics of recycled fibers and compares them to virgin fiber; evaluation includes the fiber size distribution, water behavior, pH, buffer capacity, nitrogen content, as well as residual resin. Virgin fibers were produced via thermo-mechanical pulping (TMP). The process was modified (mTMP) to generate secondary fibers from fiberboard processing residues and post-consumer waste, including fiberboard and solid wood. The results thus confirmed the fiber shortening, increased fine content, and the possible presence of residual resin.