Evaluation of corn germ protein as an extender in plywood adhesive

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of wet-milled corn germ protein as an extender in plywood adhesive. Partially defatted dried corn germ from wet-milling, containing 2.1% (dry basis, db) crude oil and 24.7% (db) crude protein, was ground to 40-mesh particle size to produce the meal. The predominant water- and saline-soluble proteins were extracted from the corn germ meal (CGM) by using 0.1?M NaCl as solvent in a method that used homogenization, centrifugation, dialysis, and freeze-drying. The recovered freeze-dried protein extract (FDPE) was substituted (on protein content basis) for wheat flour in the standard adhesive mix for sprayline coaters. Adhesive containing CGM was also prepared in the same manner. Mixing and adhesion properties of the corn germ-based adhesives were compared with those of the industry standard adhesive. The adhesive containing FDPE showed dispersibility and mixing behaviors, as well as viscosity values that were almost identical to those of the industry standard and superior to those of CGM adhesive. The mean wet tensile strength of the adhesive containing FDPE was notably greater (1.71?MPa) than that of CGM-based adhesive (1.34?MPa) and wheat-based standard adhesive (1.38?MPa), which indicated stronger bonding. The results demonstrated that corn germ protein has the potential to be an alternative protein extender in plywood adhesives for sprayline coaters.