Wood adhesives containing solid residues of biomass fermentations

Abstract

A bioadhesive composition for bonding together adjacent surfaces of wood comprises a microbially-produced fermentation residue containing adherent microbial cells and glycocalyx. This residue finds particular application as a replacement for a significant amount of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) or other conventional adhesive component commonly used in the production of plywood and other wood products.

1 . An adhesive composition comprising a glycocalyx-containing fermentation residue.  
     
     
         2 . The adhesive composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a conventional adhesive component.  
     
     
         3 . The adhesive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the conventional adhesive component is phenol-formaldehyde.  
     
     
         4 . The adhesive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fermentation residue is the product of fermenting a cellulosic substrate with a glycocalyx-producing microorganism.  
     
     
         5 . The adhesive composition of  claim 4 , wherein the microorganism is a bacterium.  
     
     
         6 . The adhesive composition of  claim 4 , wherein the microorganism is a bacterium selected from the group consisting of  Ruminococcus  species and  Clostridium  species.  
     
     
         7 . The adhesive composition of  claim 6 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of  Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens , and  Clostridium thermocellum.    
     
     
         8 . The adhesive composition of  claim 7 , wherein the microorganism is a bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of a microorganism selected from the group consisting of  Ruminococcus albus  NRRL B-30653 , Ruminococcus flavefaciens  NRRL B-30654 , Ruminococcus flavefaciens  strain B34b, and  Clostridium thermocellum  ATCC 27405.  
     
     
         9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is a free-flowing particulate material.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising an extender.  
     
     
         12 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . The adhesive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fermentation residue is the extracellular product of fermenting a cellulosic substrate with a glycocalyx-producing microorganism.  
     
     
         27 . The adhesive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fermentation residue is present in an amount effective as an adhesive.  
     
     
         28 . The adhesive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the glycocalyx-containing fermentation residue has been dried and ground to a maximum particle size of 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         29 . An adhesive composition comprising a glycocalyx-containing fermentation residue in an amount which is at least about 15% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         30 . The adhesive composition of  claim 29 , further comprising a conventional adhesive component.  
     
     
         31 . The adhesive composition of  claim 30 , wherein the conventional adhesive component is phenol-formaldehyde.  
     
     
         32 . The adhesive composition of  claim 29 , wherein the fermentation residue is the product of fermenting a cellulosic substrate with a glycocalyx-producing microorganism.  
     
     
         33 . The adhesive composition of  claim 32 , wherein the microorganism is a bacterium.  
     
     
         34 . The adhesive composition of  claim 32 , wherein the microorganism is a bacterium selected from the group consisting of  Ruminococcus  species and  Clostridium  species.  
     
     
         35 . The adhesive composition of  claim 34 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of  Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens , and  Clostridium thermocellum.    
     
     
         36 . The adhesive composition of  claim 35 , wherein the microorganism is a bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of a microorganism selected from the group consisting of  Ruminococcus albus  NRRL B-30653 , Ruminococcus flavefaciens  NRRL B-30654 , Ruminococcus flavefaciens  strain B34b, and  Clostridium thermocellum  ATCC 27405.  
     
     
         37 . The adhesive composition of  claim 29 , wherein the glycocalyx-containing fermentation residue has been dried and ground to a maximum particle size of 0.5 mm.