Cost-benefit analysis of medium-density fiberboard production by adding fiber from recycled medium-density fiberboard

Waste medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is mostly disposed of in landfills and left for incineration. The consequences of filling MDF waste to the landfill include undesirable associated costs and environmental problems caused by incineration. In this study, a prediction method is used for calculating the thermal energy required to recycle MDF fibers. The recycling method consists of a high-temperature treatment in a preheater at an operating temperature of 100^°C, which melts the resin and separates the fibers. The cost reduction and energy savings of virgin wood material are calculated for MDF that has been manufactured by replacing 10 and 20 percent of the wood fiber with recycled fiber. Results show that the benefits of MDF production using 10 percent recycled fiber result in a 10 percent reduction in virgin wood material costs and an energy savings of 3.9 percent. Using 20 percent recycled fiber results in an estimated 20 percent reduction in the cost of virgin wood material and an energy savings of 7.8 percent for MDF production. The predicted amounts of thermal energy required to produce MDF are consistent with those of previous studies.