Local tree extracts are promising wood glue ingredients – DOST-FPRDI
Tannins, or extracts from locally available trees, have been found promising ingredients for making plywood glue.
This was the initial finding of a collaborative project among DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI), Switzerland-based Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), Philippine Coconut Authority – Zamboanga Research Center (PCA-ZRC) and Visayas State University (VSU). The project was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Initial results showed that experimental plywood bonded with tannin-phenol formaldehyde adhesives passed the bond quality requirement of ISO 12466-2 (2016), with minimum amount of formaldehyde emission released. In addition, some of the crude tannin extracts were found moderately effective to effective against fungi and insects when applied as wood preservative.
The project was part of the research program “Pinoy Tannin: Development of a Sustainable Tannin Extraction in the Philippines”, that evaluated the most effective way to extract tannins. Led by BFH’s Dr. Sauro Bianchi, the program aimed to develop a low-cost and sustainable tannin extraction technology among local communities in the Philippines, and the use of local tannins as substitute for conventional adhesives and preservatives for the country’s wood industry.
Tannins are organic substances normally present in barks and other plant tissues, which are commonly used to make leather and wood adhesives. “Some are used as tanning agents for leather products, clarifying agents for wine production and ingredients in cosmetics & pharmaceuticals products,” said DOST-FPRDI’s Rebecca B. Lapuz.
The Institute led the project on the characterization of tannin extracts from agroforest residues such as barks, coconut husks and shells. It also studied its application in wood adhesives and wood preservatives.
The Pinoy Tannin Program evaluation and closing event was held in Biel, Switzerland from 13-14 December 2022, where DOST-FPRDI representatives and other delegates were toured around BFH’s extraction facilities. (Apple Jean C. Martin- de Leon and Catherine D. Masacayan, 27 January 2023)
