Eco Factor: Wood glues with zeolite help improve air quality indoors.
Researchers believe that up to 85 percent of all wood materials that include particleboard andplywood are made using adhesives that carry formaldehyde, which according to WHO is a carcinogen. The fumes emitted by these formaldehyde-based glues pose a serious health hazard, but new research conducted at Fraunhofer’s Institute for Wood Research and Institute for Silicate Research has identified that modified zeolites were able to act as a molecular sieve.
Zeolites have a porous structure and a large inner surface, which makes sure that formaldehyde molecules can easily adhere to the inner surface so they can’t get out. Using zeolite Y, which is modified and improved with amino groups, the research team noticed a 70 percent boost in the absorption rate after the synthetic was added to formaldehyde.
Moreover, the new glue helped drop formaldehyde emissions from the board by as much as 40 percent. The reduction in emissions means that air in living spaces can be improved. The research team also states that during tests the technology can also help reduce air pollutant levels.
