Hydroxymethylfurfural(HMF): Exploring its potential as a wood resin derived from cellulose

As the demand for sustainable materials continues to rise, the development of innovative and renewable resins has become a central area of research. This study explores the creation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) resin derived from cellulosic glucose extracted from finely powdered greens and fruit peels. Characterization of HMF was performed using NMR and FTIR-ATR, confirming the presence of HMF. The crude HMF resin underwent purification through crystallization, resulting in an increased conversion efficiency from 51 % to 92 %. The resin displayed high moisture resistance and enhanced bond strength in HMF/wood composites when subjected to boiling water. Morphological analysis revealed an absence of voids, and the HMF/wood composite exhibited a notable tensile strength of 21.5 MPa, comparable to other phenolic composites. The novelty of this work lies in the use of sustainable, powdered waste greens and fruit peels low-cost biomass sources for HMF production, offering a promising renewable alternative to traditional synthetic resins with improved performance characteristics.