Life Cycle Inventory on the Production of OSB in the Northeast United States by Nathaniel Vacanti & Dr. Stephen Shaler

As part of the NSF-REU program here at the University of Maine I will be working with Dr. Stephen Shaler on a life cycle inventory (LCI) model on the manufacture of oriented strandboard (OSB).

Oriented strandboard is a material made out of wood strands and adhesive that can be substituted for plywood. Compared to plywood OSB is much less expensive which makes it a popular alternative in construction projects. However there are some drawbacks associated with OSB. OSB is more absorbent to water and consequently swells more in damp environments. This could present a problem if a constant thickness is absolutely necessary. Once swelled, OSB is much less permeable to water vapor which can cause a mold or fungus problem in confined areas.

A life cycle inventory is essentially a mass and energy balance on a process. Like any process, there are inputs and outputs to the manufacturing of OSB. The mass inputs include wood and adhesive while the energy inputs include the energy required to cut down the trees, to form wood strands, to transport the wood, to make the adhesive, to accomplish the high temperature and pressure necessary to manufacture the OSB, and to burn off volatile organic compounds. The mass outputs include the finished OSB, any unused raw materials, and any waste products (possibly toxic) from the process. The energy outputs take the form of lost heat and changes in internal energy. However, they are not as significant because the energy inputs are the dominant cost.

The software SimaPro LCA will be used to set up the mass and energy balances and create the LCI model. Once the model is created, parameters can be changed in specific processes and comparisons of environmental impacts can be made between productions with different compositions of raw materials; the goal being to find which parameters the negative environmental impacts (emissions, solid waste, energy use, etc.) are most sensitive to, and to propose ways to minimize these parameters in the actual industrial process.

These model outputs can also be inserted into a larger model, such as one for constructing a house. The effects of using OSB can then be compared to those for using plywood (if a model for the use of plywood is available). With the cost and environmental impacts of this substitution readily available, an educated decision between the two products can then be made.

REU Interview 07/17/07

http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/FBRI/2007FBRI/Nate.m4a