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The performance of solid wood and woodbased materials is generally increased by applying chemical and physical treatments; however they may compromise the recyclability of the products reaching their end life. Among the wide range of chemicals applicable to wood-based materials some are source of concern and a few (e.g. Chromate Copper Arsenate) are considered to be dangerous waste. This work focuses on the elemental analysis of wood residues developing a survey on contamination levels of wooden materials, intended either for quantifying wood not polluted that may be re-used as ''virgin'' raw material, or as a preliminary step of an automated sorting method using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF). The analyses are referred to elemental concentration reported for natural solid wood and to those thresholds set by law. In a sampling carried out mainly in north Italy, 336 wood waste specimens were collected, classified using descriptor fields and analyzed with ED-XRF technique, implementing a validation method for short scan time. Roughly 84 % of the specimens comply with the EU decision (Ecolabel) on heavy metals, ranging from 94 to 63 % (fibreboard, hardwood, softwood, plywood, particleboard recycled and

The monitoring solid pollutants, moisture and gaseous emissions of wooden biomass utilized in a 30 kW stove have been performed. This paper reports a case study where the control of organic pollutants in biomass was performed by using FT-IR-ATR technology, heavy metals were measured with ED-XRF, radiation was assessed with a pocket Geiger device. Moisture content has been monitored according to the standard EN 14774-2 and exhaust emissions with a MRU Optima 7 analyzer. The analyses showed no concern about organic pollutants, heavy metals or radiation. The moisture content of some biomass specimen was found very high. The gaseous emissions varied with the use of wet biomass or different part of the tree. This work is a part of the BiQueen project funded by Fondazione Caritro.

Earthquakes are an unpredictable potentially deadly phenomena. Buildings anti-seismictechnology can effectively reduce the risk of injuries, however the anti-seismic performancesof many buildings are still weak. Lack of funds, logistics and bureaucracy are still delaying theadoption of this technology on a large scale. As a result citizens spend hours everyday in privateand public buildings (including schools) which are still a dangerous place.A wooden based furniture that can be used as an anti-seismic shelter is here released under theCreative Commons licence: a low-cost, natural-based, open-source, copyright-free solution.The so-called Lifeshell concept has been independently funded by former wood researchers andit is presented in its engineering characteristics. “Life in Shell” depicts an alive human beingprotected by wood during an earthquake.Lifeshell is a furniture in the shape of school desk, wardrobe, table or bed realized using CrossLaminated Timber panels. The design foresees as many closed sides as possible and theassembly uses metal connections and screws for wooden constructions. A 1300 x 700 x 500mm school desk prototype has been successfully tested, resisting to a total impact energy of40.000 Joule without major damages.Lifeshell is foreseen in various types, sizes, weights, finishing and accessories. A very low costversion is thought for being assembled and finished by the final user, while a top-range versioncan include a surviving kit or even topped with fancy technology (oxygen masks, avalanchebeacon, radio and so on).Authors release this potential life-saving technology using the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0License (public domain), which allows the production and selling of these furniture without anyroyalty fee for the authors.