Potential of using anaerobically digested bovine biofiber as a fiber source for wood composites

Manure, an animal waste product with many negative economic and environmental issues, can today be converted using anaerobic digestion technology into a number of commercial products ranging from fertilizer, compost, animal bedding, and plant bedding. A number of new uses are now being explored such as bioenergy (both electrical and biofuel) and a lignocellulose-rich potential feedstock for engineered biocomposite products for building materials. This paper explores the engineering potential of using anaerobically digested bovine biomass (ADBF) as a feedstock material for biocomposite building materials. Our evaluation generally indicated that making dry-formed fiberboard using up to a 50/50% mixture of wood fiber and ADBF-fiber compared favorably with some commercial requirements for wood-based medium-density fiberboard and particleboard.