Seyed Eshagh Ebadi - Department of Wood and Paper Science and Technology, Islamic Azad University of Chalus Branch, Iran
Ramin Vaysi - Department of Wood and Paper Science and Technology, Islamic Azad University of Chalus Branch, Iran
Mojtaba Soltani - Department of Wood and Paper Science and Technology, Islamic Azad University of Chalus Branch, Iran

The purpose of the research was to develop the response surface methodology (RSM) models for the treatment conditions optimization of modulus of rapture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of treated oil palm wood (OPW) with buffer solutions. The optimum conditions were determined using RSM to improve of OPW by hydrothermal treatment in buffered solutions. Central composite design(CCD) was used as statistical multivariate method for process optimization in the buffered media. The central composite design consists of three variables (buffer solutions, temperature and time at pH of 5 to 8, 80-140 °С and 40-120 mins, respectively) and two responses (MOR, MOE) were employed to perform the experiments in hydrothermal treatment. The independent variables have been optimized using RSM to obtain the optimal conditions. The models indicated that the optimum conditions for preparation of the hydrothermal treatment having the desirable factors including buffer solutions, temperature and time. Based on the optimal conditions, the corresponding predicted response value for MOR, MOE were estimated to be 39.09 MPa, and 5613.1Mpa, respectively. Nevertheless, the models were suggested that the optimum conditions were pH of 7.12 (the buffer neutral), temperature of 110 °C, and time of 120 minutes. The actual response according to proposed treatment illustrated excellent agreement with the predicted value with residual standard error (RSE) of less than 5%.

response surface methodology (RSM); central composite design (CCD); hydrothermal treatment; buffer solution; bending strength