A preliminary assay of the potential of soy protein isolate and its hydrolysates to provide interfiber bonding enhancements in lignocellulosic furnishes

Soy protein isolate (SPI) was extracted from soy flour and hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and enzyme, separately, to provide a series of hydrolysates. The SPI and its hydrolysis products were later cross-linked with ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in the presence of sodium hypophosphite (SPH) after which they were complexed to chitosan as part of an on-going general chemical strategy in our laboratories to improve their incorporation into old corrugated container (OCC) matrix and thus increase inter-fiber bonding. Approximately 2% SPI-EDTA-chitosan and hydrolyzed SPI-EDTA-chitosan additives by mass (OCC-based slurry) were thoroughly mixed before generating a sheet for physical testing. The tensile and burst indices of the SPI-EDTA-chitosan additive-treated OCC pulp sheet increased 46.3% and 61.85%, respectively, while the inter fiber bonding of SPI-EDTA-chitosan additive-treated OCC pulp sheet increased 74.86% compared to the control, albeit having a decreased tear strength and roughness, with significantly increased gloss. The additive-treated pulp sheet was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and ATR to provide evidence for product synthesis.