Center for Crops Utilization Research

Information

Got a question?

Agriculturally-based building materials

Overview

Soy products are being investigated for use in wood adhesives. One project is examining the role of carbohydrate level on the binding properties of soyflour adhesives. Historical use of soyflour adhesives was tempered by product and bonding inconsistency. Both problems may result from water absorption by sugars in the soyflour and adhesion reduction due to protein denaturation. The research program is identifying the weak point in the molecular bonding sequence and testing soyflour and soy isolate formulations that incorporate conventional glues.

Research into agriculturally derived adhesives and underutilized fiber sources has resulted in several new technologies undergoing patent protection, and have progressed to technology transfer initiatives that involve several private partners. Adhesives are one of five areas targeted by the Soybean Check-Off to develop new uses for soybeans. The Check-Off?goal (Iowa Soybean Promotion Board) is to further develop the soy-based adhesives market from the current 2-million bushels a year to 23-million bushels a year by 2005.

The non-toxic, environmentally sound soy adhesives have been developed that eliminate or drastically reduce the need for formaldehyde-based resins. This material can be nearly 100% soy protein. Current formulations have the water-resistance and tensile strength of currently used "interior-grade" urea-formaldehyde wood adhesives. This adhesive is perfectly suited to countertops, laminated paneling and similar applications.

A second area involves soy adhesive blends that utilize conventional wood adhesives for use in specific products and joinery systems. One specific application is in end-jointed lumber. This procedure is certified by the Western Wood Products Association, and utilizes scraps and small pieces of wood that otherwise would be burned for fuel, or chipped and used in chipboard. These wood products are extremely strong and very dimensionally stable, however, they do use a great deal of adhesive. The new adhesive technologies developed by the Biocomposites Research Group are cost-effective alternatives to conventional adhesives, improving an already economical technology. An option to license the group?hydrolyzed soy and phenol-formaldehyde resin adhesive technology has been purchased by Heartland Resource Technologies, LLC., Olwein, IA, and South Pasadena, CA. Production of a resin production plant in Olwei, IA, will begin pending approval of the applicable permits by regulatory agencies.

Other research has investigated alternative fiber sources from soy, corn, switchgrass, and manure fibers. This led to initiatives that promote re-use of waste fibers and has resulted in exploratory agreement with an industrial partner to create a new market for fiber that had been land-fill waste.

A related project coordinated by CCUR and the ISU Biocomposites Research Group considers reevaluating animal waste, changing our perception of this material from that of common manure to that of a readily available bio-resource. Using pilot-scale separation and manufacturing technologies in the CCUR Crop Products Pilot Plant and full-scale manufacturing trials with industrial cooperators, team members are isolating "animal-processed fiber" from animal waste and converting it into value-added building materials. This type of product adds value to what had been a "waste stream," sequesters polluting nitrogen and carbon dioxide from the ground water or atmosphere, and uses soybean-based adhesives to make an environmentally friendly construction board containing 97% renewable resources.