**2. Materials and Methods**

### *2.1. Sample Preparation of Rhizophora spp. Particleboard Bonded with Lignin and Soy Flour*

*Rhizophora* spp. raw wood trunks were obtained from a coal factory in Perak and underwent several steps, which include drying, debarking, grinding and sieving, to prepare wood particles at approximately 0 µm to 103 µm particle sizes. Lignin (Sigma Aldrich, Merck, QRec, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) and soy flour (Sigma Aldrich, Merck, QRec, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) were utilised as binders for the fabrication of the particleboard. Different percentages of binders, i.e. 0%, 6% (3:1 soy flour to lignin) and 12% (3:1 soy flour to lignin) binders, were pre-determined to analyse their effects towards the characterisation and physico-mechanical properties. Bonded particleboards were fabricated at a target density of 1.0 g.cm−<sup>3</sup> , while maintaining the *Rhizophora* spp. moisture content at approximately 1.39% L to 6.47% L. Moisture content of the sample is best being below 10% L to maintain its relative humidity, and may also be affected by type, size and geometry of the sample [15]. The fabrication process involved hot pressing by using a hot press machine at approximately 200 ◦C, with a pressure of 20 MPa for approximately 17 min to 20 min.
