Adhesion properties of soy protein adhesives enhanced by biomass lignin

Soy protein adhesives have great potential as sustainable eco-friendly adhesives. However, low adhesion under wet conditions hinders its applications. The objective of this research was to enhance the water resistance of soy protein adhesives. The focus of this research was to understand the effect of protein to lignin ratio and lignin particle size i.e. large (35.66 μm), medium (19.13 μm), and small (10.26 μm) on the adhesion performance of soy protein adhesives as well as to characterize its rheological and thermal properties. Results showed that the lignin particle size and the protein to lignin ratio greatly affected the adhesion performance of soy protein adhesives. The addition of lignin slightly increased the viscosity, spreadability, and thermostability of soy protein adhesives. The wet strength of soy protein adhesives increased as lignin particle size decreased. Soy protein mixed with small size lignin at a protein to lignin ratio of 10:2 (w/w) at 12% concentration presented the lowest contact angle and the highest wet adhesion strength of 4.66 MPa., which is 53.3% higher than that of 10% pure soy protein adhesive. The improvements in adhesion performance and physicochemical properties of soy protein adhesives by lignin were ascribed to the interactions between protein and lignin. Lignin with smaller particle size increased the wet shear strength of soy protein adhesives because a larger surface area of lignin was available to interact with the protein.