ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the application of canola protein and oil for wood adhesives. The most prevalent canola products include oil for human consumption and meal for livestock feed. Canola seeds consist of 19.5%-23.5% protein and 37.5%-50.9% oil, depending on the breeds and growing environments. Canola meal, which contains 30%-50% protein and is a by-product of canola oil extraction, is usually not used in human food applications due to the presence of glucosinolates, erucic acid, phytates, and phenolics. Development of value-added product from canola meal will provide new market opportunities for the canola industry and US farmers, as well as expand capabilities for an eco green” biorenewable economy and reduce reliance on heavily utilized fossil fuel feedstocks. From previous researches, canola protein-based adhesives have shown good wood bonding performance in terms of dry, wet, and soaked shear strength. Drawbacks of canola protein-based adhesives, such as high viscosity and relatively low water resistance, can be overcame by using 112reducing agents to unfold protein’s structure and grafting functional groups to the amino acid chains of canola protein. Modification through cross-linking could significantly increase the bonding strength and water resistance of canola protein-based adhesives. This chapter also describes blending canola meal with synthetic resins for wood adhesives. Canola meal and synthetic adhesives showed potential for use as bonders in particle board and wood flooring. Canola oil can also be used to make wood adhesives by synthesizing canola oil into polyurethanes.
