Handling Phenolic Resin Adhesive Wash Water in Southern Pine Plywood Plants

Disposal of phenolic resin adhesive wash water in southern pine plywood plants is a serious problem. Tests made in Louisiana show wash water to have 0.17 to 5.2 ppm of phenolic bodies–too great for discharge into public water sources. Wash water comes from wash down of adhesive mixers, storage tanks, transfer lines, and application equipment. Some methods of disposal are discharge to a stream, lagooning, municipal sewage treatment, precipitation with acid, incineration, and reuse. The best method is to use the wash water to replace fresh water in adhesives mixes. Plywood glue bonds are as good with the adhesive made with wash water as with adhesives made with freshwater. Adhesive wash water is strongly alkaline (pH 10-11.5), and may have a solid content of 1 to 2 percent. The wash water contains phenolic resin, sodium hydroxide, water, wheat flour (usually), and furafil (a dried, ground residue from the production of furfural). Plywood plants may. produce 4,450 to 14,050 gallons of wash water per week–by calculation. Actual production may run much higher. Equipment is available from Borden Chemical Company for the adhesive wash water re-use system.

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