Brazil is one of the major banana producers in the world, and consequently generates a great amount of residues from this crop, which could be utilized in particleboard production. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of different chemical treatments of the particles of Musa sp. pseudostem, on their chemical and physical properties (basic density), and on the physical and mechanical properties of the particleboards produced with the same material. Five treatments were applied to the particles: 1) without treatment (control); 2) 2% acetic acid; 3) 0.5% NaOH; 4) acetone (1/1 in volume/volume); and 5) water. Panels with medium density were produced (0.70 g/cm³), bonded with 12% (in relation to the particle mass) of urea-formaldehyde adhesive. The pressing cycle was conducted at 160º C, under 4 MPa, during 8 min. The results obtained indicated that the chemical treatments performed in the particles of banana tree pseudostem affected their chemical composition. The basic density of the particles was 0.10 g/cm³, and only the NaOH treatment led to its increase for values around 0.13 g/cm3. The panels produced with particles without treatment (control) and particles treated with acetic acid presented the lowest values of water absorption and thickness swelling after 2 and 24 h of immersion. Mechanical properties of all the panels produced were below the minimum recommended by the standard CS 236-66 (COMMERCIAL STANDARD - CS, 1968).
Musa sp.; lignocellulosic residues; chemical treatments
