Agrofiber as Reinforcement for Green Composite Panels

I am motivated by the urgent needs of the changing world for the development of efficient and durable alternative to wood products that will be suitable for use in housing delivery, electronic industries, automobile industries at the same time limiting carbon emission and landscape degradation, capable of providing an avenue to reduce pressure on the forests biodiversity; enriching forest resources; mitigate climate change; control of all form of erosion and flooding; and conservation of wildlife, fruit trees and other micro life forms in the living forest ecosystem diversities.

Commercialization and scaling of this developmental project is capable of:  curbing environmental pollution and siltation of water ways; converting waste materials (biological and non-biological such as plastics) to Value Added Panel Products (VAPP) thereby promoting sustainable use of natural resources; increasing prosperity; creating a new orientation in design, technology and industrial development in sourcing, processing, manufacturing and utilization of raw materials and new products.

My research output which borders around harvesting, collection, sustainable management and utilization of wastes from biofibers using inorganic and inorganic binders for the manufacture of value-added products which is germane to meeting the purpose of poverty reduction, increase prosperity and mitigation of challenges arising from carbon emission and climate change. This innovation will complement the effort of sustainable development that would trigger a lasting transformation of the rural and unban economies. 

The utilization of biofiber will empower the Least Developed Communities to improve their incomes in an environmentally sustainable manner through the sales of wastes derived from post-harvest processing, assured food security and has been a complementary efforts to the reduction of harmful emission, combating forest degradation and deforestation. Affordable value-added products from this innovation has proven to be suitable for use in core and low cost housing delivery in Urban and Rural communities worldwide.

This innovation will empower rural populations (farmers and indigenous people) to improve their incomes in an environmentally sustainable manner through the sales of wastes derived from post-harvest processing. The raw materials and Value Added Panel Products (VAPP) from this innovative work could serve as a model for investment opportunities among the urban and rural communities. This will no doubt compliment the efforts of securing a quality environment conducive for good health and well-being of fauna, flora and soil productivity.  This efforts will as well compliment the effort of reducing emission, forest degradation and deforestation and also support the realization of Sustainable Economic Development and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 1, 2, 8, 9, 13 14, 15 and 17), a dream of the world. Scaling and commercialization of the outputs of this innovation can be presented as concerted solutions to the world challenges.

The team is made up of experienced and technical professionals who has the requisite knowledge in sourcing, processing and bio-waste value addition techniques. The team also include skilled builders and artisans that will be involved in the hands-on utilization of the value-added products in the construction of affordable, core and low cost buildings. The team comprises of both male and female most of whom are energetic and creative youths.

The team and communities will be saddled with the responsibility to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable prosperity worldwide by increasing raw materials for construction industries, create job opportunities, increased food production,reduce pressure on forest biodiversity, develop innovative science & technology in engineering, architectural designs, building mega structures, enhance eco-stability, industrial development, research and service delivery.

The following equipment, tools and machinery are required;

Hydraulic Press

Extrusion Machine

Hammer mill machine

Injection moulding machine

Compression moulding machine

Universal Testing Machine

Wooden moulds

Agricultural wastes

Recycled plastics

Cements

Factory building

Borehole

Electricity

Labour

The products are hybrids of organic, inorganic (cement) and plastic (virgin and recycled) raw materials reinforced with assorted wood wastes, weeds and agricultural by-products, using adaptable and innovative manufacturing techniques. These products are versatile as they can be suitably made from a wide range of non-conventional raw materials sourced locally. Bio-wastes that are found suitable from local sources for value added products include: Yam stem; Maize-stalk & cob; Coconut fiber; Palm kennel fiber; Cassava stem; Banana stem residues; Rice husk; Ground nut shell; Bamboo particles; Eupatorium odorata; Sugarcane waste; Luffa cylindrical; Elephant grass; Cow bone; Water hyacinth etc. The bio-wastes are processed into particles by hammermill and thereafter screened to remove impurities before board manufacturing. Particles for inorganic bonded boards were treated in hot water to remove the superfluous materials capable of inhibiting the setting and curing of the binder. The particles, binder and additive were mixed together and formed inside a mould. Thereafter, the mattress formed is pre-pressed and pressed to form the final board. Plastic bonded composite were produced through extrusion or injection moulding procedure using fine particles and pelleted plastics. Areas of application include: 1. Ceiling 2. Floor tiles 3. Wall Paneling. 4. Partitioning 5. Roofing 6. Furniture components 7. Core and low cost houses 8. Pots and vessels 9. Automobile components etc.

-Resource Persons from The Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure and other institutions will be employed.

-Production of value added boards of diverse characteristics from bio-wastes

-Testing of value added boards for quality assurance

-Upscaling of Production and Commercialization of Products

-Training, workshops and Capacity Building on production of value added panel products from bio-wastes

-Collaborations with other institutions nationally and internationally etc.

As participant in United Nation Program under the Department of Social Affairs and Sustainable Development from 2017 to date. In 2021, I authored a written submission for Session 2 of the STI Forum on "Effective paths towards the SDGs: STI for ending poverty and hunger, enhancing human well-being and building resilience" (https://sdgs.un.org/events/session-2-effective-paths-towards-sdgs-sti-end) and also a submission on Acceleration action Towards Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030.

• Increase farmer’s income and alleviate poverty; • Increase raw materials supplies for construction industries; • Create job opportunities for low and high income earners; • Increases food production; • Reduce pressure on forest resources biodiversity; • Develop innovative science and technology in engineering, architectural designs and building mega structures; • Produce innovations in products manufacturing, processing and utilization; • Mitigation of climate change by reducing forest exploitation to maintain balanced ecosystem • Provision of value added panel that can favourably serve as substitute to sawn timber. • The availability of the major raw materials found locally • Simplicity of its manufacturing technology • Availability to small scale entrepreneurship • High resistance to termites, insects and fungi attack; moisture, freezing, fire • Good insulating properties, durability, nailability • Non-aggressive and non-contagious nature of dust derived from the process

Implementation of concept, build up of pilot units and up-scaling of production for commercialization. Enhance farming activities for food security, acquire and install machinery and equipment for large-scale production. Development of housing units for low & high income earners from the materials. Further investigations into other agricultural wastes and weeds worldwide for manufacturing of value added products useful in construction, electronics, automobile and other allied industry.

Through continuous research into different biofiber wastes material easily sourced within the localities.

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As a professor and Lecturer in the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Wastes from wood, agriculture and weed can be used in manufacturing affordable value-added panel product that have proven to be suitable alternative to sawn timber. Plastic, weeds and wastes generated from the forestry and agricultural sector are enormous in the world and can be used to create sustainable wealth. The team have channeled ideas in production of value added products from the vast bio-wastes in our immediate environment to minimize pressure on forests, mitigate climate change, and curb siltation of water ways. The research innovation have been presented in different conferences and published in some reputable journals and also organized seminars and workshop for creating awareness within the community. The team is active in the teaching and training of youths and participating in community development services.

Environmentally friendly and easily replicated value added bio-composites from non-conventional raw materials which has conveniently stand as an alternatives to wood products in meeting the demand for sustainable construction materials for core and low cost housing in rural and urban areas, electronics and automobile industries. This has help to increase LDCs income and alleviate poverty among the people. The innovation has promoted entrepreneurship in the country.

The plan of the team in becoming financially sustainable is to continue to source for grant within and outside the community from intuitional supporting financial programs to be used in improving and promoting the innovative products. We also placed requests on communities to buy shares in supporting the business plan.