To the release of volatile acids from medium density fibreboards (MDF)

Abstract

Wood and wood-based panels emanate formic and acetic acid. The amount of acetic acid release is high in comparison to its concentration in cold water extracts of wood-based panels containing both formic and acetic acids. This is most probably due to the fact that formic acid is a stronger acid (pK(a) 3.77) than acetic acid (pK(a) 4.76). Insofar the dissociation of acetic acid is suppressed by the presence of formic acid and the undissociated acetic acid emanates in higher amounts than formic acid in the vapour phase.