A researcher studying wood adhesives argues that bio-based adhesives derived from lignin will soon become the dominant adhesive type in the wood-based panel industry, displacing traditional formaldehyde-based adhesives like urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. The researcher bases this argument on the fact that lignin-based adhesives are derived from renewable resources, have demonstrated promising bonding strength in laboratory settings, and avoid the health concerns associated with formaldehyde emissions. Furthermore, the researcher cites the increasing availability of lignin from lignocellulosic biomass waste as a significant factor favoring their widespread adoption.
Which one of the following would be most useful to know in order to evaluate the researcher’s argument?
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