Preparation and properties of binderless boards from Jatropha curcas L. seed cake

• The chemical composition of Jatropha curcas L. seed cake was determined in detail.
• Use of the cake for binderless board production was explored.
• Optimum pressing conditions were determined.
• Mechanical properties of the boards were comparable to commercial particle boards.
• Addition of hemp core particles improves the properties.

The potential of Jatropha curcas L. seed cake after oil extraction (expelling of seeds followed by hexane extraction) as a raw material for binderless boards was investigated. The composition of the de-oiled seed cake was investigated using a range of techniques (proximate-, ultimate analyses, TG/DG, SEM). The effects of pressing conditions like the water content of the feed material (5–20 wt%), pressing temperature (120–200 °C), pressure (5–15 MPa), and heating time (30–60 min) on the physico–mechanical properties of the resulting fiberboards were determined. The optimum conditions were 8 wt% moisture content, a pressing temperature at 135 °C, 10 MPa pressure, and heating and cooling times of 30 and 15 min, respectively. The mechanical properties of the binderless boards are comparable with typical commercial particle boards. The effect of the addition of hemp woody core particles on the board properties was evaluated and small, though clear synergistic effects were observed.