Alkali-modified soy proteins: Effect of salts and disulfide bond cleavage on adhesion and viscosity

Protein-Based Bioproducts

Plant proteins can be used for the production of a variety of bioproducts, including films and coatings, adhesives, fibres and pharmaceuticals. Proteins derived from plant production systems have many advantages: they are safe, low-cost and rapidly deployable, allow for simple product storage and result in proteins that are properly folded, assembled and post-translationally modified. While plant-derived protein-based products are natural, renewable, biodegradable and environmentally friendly, they tend to be lower in strength and elasticity than their corresponding synthetic products. Current research in this area is focused on overcoming challenges in plant production platforms related to yield, purification, regulatory approval and customer acceptance.

Biomimetic soy protein nanocomposites with calcium carbonate crystalline arrays for use as wood adhesive

Despite the biodegradability, non-toxicity, and renewability, commercially available soy protein-based adhesives still have not been widely adopted by industry, partially due to their disappointing performances, i.e., low glue strength in the dry state and no glue strength in the wet state. In this study, biomimetic soy protein/CaCO(3) hybrid wood glue was devised and an attempt made to improve the adhesion strength. The structure and morphology of the adhesive and its fracture bonding interface and adhesion strength were investigated. Results showed that the compact rivets or interlocking links, and ion crosslinking of calcium, carbonate, hydroxyl ions in the adhesive greatly improving the water-resistance and bonding strength of soy protein adhesives. Glue strength of soy protein hybrid adhesive was higher than 6 MPa even after three water-immersion cycles. This green and sustainable proteinous hybrid adhesive, with high glue strength and good water-resistance, is a good substitute for formaldehyde wood glues.

Effect of sodium bisulfite on properties of soybean glycinin

The objective of this work is to understand the function of glycinin in soy protein adhesive formation. Glycinin protein was treated with sodium bisulfite, and physicochemical, morphological, and adhesion properties of the modified soy glycinin were characterized. More disulfide bonds that associated acidic and basic polypeptides of glycinin broke as the sodium bisulfite concentration increased. The reduction of disulfide bonds did not decrease the thermal stability of glycinin. Instead, the denaturation temperature of modified glycinin increased as sodium bisulfite increased. Sodium bisulfite-induced disulfide bond cleavage increased the surface hydrophobicity of modified glycinin. Hydrophobic force is the main driving force for glycinin aggregation, and the balance between hydrophobic and electrostatic forces makes glycinin form chainlike aggregates. The adhesive strength and water resistance of glycinin dropped significantly at lower levels of sodium bisulfite and then increased as the amount of sodium bisulfite increased up to 24 g/L. The adhesive performance decreased again with further addition of sodium bisulfite. The adhesive strength of glycinin was not improved by sodium bisulfite modification in the studied range.

New natural injection-moldable composite material from sunflower oil cake

Through a twin-screw extrusion process the native structure of sunflower oil cake was completely transformed (globular protein denaturation/texturization and husk fiber defibration) into a simpler matrix-fiber structure, as could be seen on SEM micrographs. Further chemical reduction of protein disulfide bridges greatly reduced the melt viscosity of the moistened composite that it could be injection-molded. The molded specimens were tested and their tensile and flexural properties and water absorption calculated. Their water resistance appeared to be particularly high, and could be enhanced further after a thermal treatment (N2, 200 degrees C). The proteic matrix seemed to behave like a natural thermoset resin. Sunflower oil cake could be used without any additives to make biodegradable, water resistant and exceptionally cheap materials.