R jeas Research Journal in Engineering and Applied Sciences 1(4) 219-214 R jeas

© Emerging Academy Resources (2012) (ISSN: 2276-8467)

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PRODUCTION OF CASSAVA STARCH-BASED ADHESIVE

Akpa Jackson Gunorubon

Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering
Rivers State University of Science and Technology,
Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
A BSTRA CT
The production of adhesive from cassava root IITA variety TMS 94/0026 was performed. Applications of starch
based adhesive are limited due to its unsuitable properties. Improvements in properties of adhesives produced
were achieved by investigating the effects of temperature, mass (concentration) of the viscosity enhancer
/stabilizer (borax) and gelatinization modifier (acidic, hydrogen chloride acid (HCl) and basic sodium hydroxide
(NaOH)) and its concentration on the properties (viscosity, density and pH) of the adhesive produced. The effect
of the gelatinization modifier (HCL and NaOH) on the drying time and bond strength of the adhesive was also
investigated. Results obtained provide a wide range of conditions for producing starch-based adhesives for
diverse applications and required properties. The adhesives produced with sodium hydroxide as its
gelatinization modifier had a stronger bond and a maximum drying time of 7.20 minutes compared to a drying
time of 4.16 minutes for the adhesive produced with hydrogen chloride acid.
©Emerging Academy Resources

KEYW ORDS: Adhesives, Cassava Starch, Functional Properties Improvement.

________________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
Adhesives are substances that are able to make things
adhere or stick together without deformation or
failure through a process called adhesion (Baumann
and Conner, 2003). Adhesives are categorized as
either natural or synthetic. Natural adhesives include
animal glues, casein glues, natural gums and resins,
sodium silicates and vegetable glues. Vegetables
glues are starch-based and are made from starches
and dextrin (Kennedy, 1989). Starch has several
advantages as a raw material in the production of
adhesives, including: renewability, biodegradability,
abundance, cheapness and stability in price (Agboola,
et. al., 1990) and can also be used to produce such
diverse products as food, paper, textiles, beverages,
confectionery, pharmaceuticals, and building
materials (FAO, 1983).
Starch is produced from grain or root crops such as
sweet potatoes, maize, wheat, rice, yam or cassava.
The advantages of cassava for starch production over
other grains or root crop includes: high purity level,
excellent thickening characteristics, a neutral (bland) more viscous, stable and neutral pH. The non-
taste, desirable textural characteristics, is relatively poisonous nature makes it a desirable choice
cheap and it contains a high concentration of starch
(dry-matter basis), (Masamba et. al., 2001). Cassava
starch has many remarkable characteristics, including
high paste viscosity, high paste clarity and high
freeze-thaw stability which are advantageous to many
industries. Cassava is a renewable, an almost
unlimited resource and one of the most abundant
substances in nature. It is one of the most important
starchy root crops of the tropics used for food and
industrial purposes. In Nigeria, it is consumed raw or
cooked as garri, starch flour and a variety of other
items (Tonukari, 2004). The cassava project of the
Nigerian government aimed at increasing the
utilization of cassava for industrial purposes and as a
foreign exchange earner has stimulated research into
the processing and conversion of cassava and its
products into industrial products and as raw
materials. It is in line with this initiative that this
study seeks the utilization of cassava starch, a
secondary product in the production of garri from
cassava which is usually drained off especially in the
rural areas as a raw material for the production of
adhesives. The effectiveness of an adhesive is
determined by its bonding capability (resistance to
load shear), ease of application, reasonable setting
time, resistance to moisture, aging, heat and fungal
attack, non-staining and gap filling (Finn, 1990).
Cassava based adhesives have the unique advantage
of having smooth, clear fine texture, non-staining,
particularly for domestic and most non-structural
utilization (Masamba, et. al., 2003). The major
drawback in the use of starch as an adhesive is the
stability of the product over time (FAO, 1983). This
study will also investigate possible improvement
methods of the properties of the adhesives produced
by studying the effects of borax and temperature on
the viscosity, density and pH of adhesive and the use
of two different modifiers (HCL and NaOH) in the

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 Research Journal in Engineering and Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2276-8467) 1(4):219-214
Production of Cassava Starch-Based Adhesive
production of the adhesive; thus provide a range of
conditions for producing starch-based adhesives for
diverse applications depending on the required
properties and industrial applications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A TMS 94/0026 (specie of cassava) was used for the
study. It was obtained from International Institute for
tropical Agriculture (IITA) Onne. The experiments
were performed at the Unit Operations Laboratory of
the Department of Chemical/Petrochemical
Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and
Technology, Port-Harcourt.
Starch Extraction Process
Cassava starch was produced primarily by the wet
milling of fresh cassava. Extraction of starch from
fresh cassava roots was performed following the
steps outlined in Figure 1. When cassava roots are
harvested or selected for starch extraction, age and
root quality are critical factors. Cassava roots need to
be processed almost immediately after harvest, as the
roots are highly perishable and enzymatic processes
accelerate deterioration within 1-2 days.
Ten (10) kg cassava were peeled, washed and grated
to finer particles. The starch was then extracted from
the grated pulp by sieving while the fiber was
retained. The fiber retained was washed repeatedly
for at least three (3) to four (4) times with distilled
water on the screen. The starch extracted was allowed
to sediment after which the fiber was decanted off
and the starch is rewashed with distilled water to
remove the remaining fiber. The starch was then
dried in an oven at a temperature of (45oC) for six (6)
hours to reduce the amount of moisture content and
finally dried under a brilliant sunshine for four (4)
hours. The powdery starch was then stored in an air
tight container to prevent contamination and
moisture.
Figure 1: Flow chart for production of cassava starch
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Procedure for Production of Adhesives
The adhesive was prepared following the procedure
presented in Figure 2. Measured quantity of prepared
dried starch was put into a beaker; known volume of
0.01 molar concentration of HCL (gelatinization
enhancer) was added and stirred continuously while
heating in a heating mantle maintained at a specified
temperature. Known mass (concentration) of a
viscosity enhancer (Borax) was added in piecemeal
and stirred continuously until mixture becomes
sticky. Product was allowed to cool.
Dried cassava starch
Add Gelatinization
Enhancer (NaOH/HCL)
Stir Continuously
Heat in a heating mantle at desired temperature
Add Viscosity Enhancer
(Borax)
Stir continuously until mixture becomes sticky
Allow product (Adhesive) to cool
Figure 2: Flow chart for the preparation of Adhesive
Determination of Optimum Process Condition and
Process Optimization
To determine optimum process conditions, process
was conducted at known/constant volumes and
concentration of the gelatinization enhancer hydrogen
chloride acid (HCL) at varying temperatures and
mass (concentration) of the viscosity enhancer
(borax).
The effect of gelatinization modifier on the quality of
adhesive produced was studied using sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) instead of hydrogen chloride acid
(HCL) as the gelatinization modifier. Procedure for
the production of adhesive was repeated at varying
concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and
borax (sodium tetraborate Na2B4O7.10H2O) and at the
optimum temperature for process as determined from
in this study. The adhesives produced using hydrogen
chloride acid (HCL) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
as gelatinization modifiers were applied on pieces of
paper, allowed to air dry and the drying time
measured. The bond strengths of the adhesives were
also determined according to ASTM method F-904.
 Research Journal in Engineering and Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2276-8467) 1(4):219-214
Production of Cassava Starch-Based Adhesive
Determination of Properties of Adhesive
The quality of adhesive produced was ascertained by
determining the following properties of all variations
of the adhesive produced after cooling to room
temperature of 30oC. The pH value of all samples
produced was determined using a digital pH meter,
density was determined according to ASTM method
D-792 while the viscosity of the adhesives was
determined using a Brookfield Dv-1+ viscometer
with spindle #1LY at a speed of 60 rev, per min (60
rpm).
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
The results of the quality of adhesive and the effects
of temperature, concentration of the viscosity
enhancer/ stabilizer (Borax) and gelatinization
modifier (Hydrochloric acid or Sodium hydroxide) on
the quality of adhesive produced (the effect on the
properties such as viscosity, density and pH) are
presented and discussed as follows:
Effects of Temperature on Properties of Adhesive
The effects of temperature on the viscosity, density
and pH of adhesive at varying concentrations of the
viscosity enhancer (borax) are shown in Figures 3, 4
and 5 respectively.
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The viscosity of a liquid, gas or fluid is its resistance
to flow; as the temperature of the liquid, gas or fluid
increases, it become lighter and flows easier; that is
its resistance to flow is reduced, hence the viscosities
are expected to decrease with temperature. This trend
the experiment predicted as shown in Fig. 3 where
the viscosity of the adhesive reduces as temperature
at which the adhesive is produced increases at all
borax concentrations investigated. Similar results
were obtained in the works of Bascom and
Cottington, 1976)
The density of the adhesive is its mass per unit
volume. Increasing the temperature at which the
adhesive is produced causes the adhesive to swell
(Yamamoto et. al., 2006), resulting in an increase in
the volume of the adhesive, it also causes a reduction
in the water content, resulting in a reduction in mass
(Bhambure and Mallick, 2012). Hence the influence
of temperature on the density of the adhesive is a
balance between these two dynamics. The results in
Figure 4 show these dynamics resulting in very
minimal increase in density with temperatures
depending on which has the greater influence.
The temperature at which the adhesive is produced
has a marginal effect on the pH of the adhesive
produced. At high concentrations, 0.4g and 0.5g
borax, the pH of the adhesive produced is virtually
constant with increase in temperature. At lower
concentrations, 0.2 and 0.3, there is a gradual
reduction in the pH with increase in temperature.
This trend is show in Figure 5.
Effects of Borax on Properties of Adhesive
The effect of concentration of the borax (viscosity
enhancer) on the viscosity, density and pH of
adhesive at varying temperatures of the is shown in
Figure 6, 7 and 8 respectively.
 Research Journal in Engineering and Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2276-8467) 1(4):219-214
Production of Cassava Starch-Based Adhesive

its resistance to flow (viscosity). Similar trends of

increase in viscosity with increased mass of borax
were reported in the works of Kurt and Mengelogla,
(2008).

Borax has been reported to increase the water holding

of adhesives and give the adhesive higher molecular
weight (Jin et. al., 2010). Therefore an increase in the
amount of borax will increase the density of the
adhesive produced. Results in Figure 7 show very
minimal increase in density with increase in the
quantity of borax used. Similar trends were observed
in adhesives used by Keskin et. al., (2009).

The pH is the negative logarithm to base 10 of the

concentration of a solution. Therefore an increase in
the mass (concentration) of the solution causes an
increase in the pH of the solution. This trend is
shown in Figure 8 where the pH of the adhesive
produced increases with increase in the mass
(concentration) of the borax added to the adhesive at
all temperature investigated.

Effect of Gelatinization Modifier

The gelatinization modifier used in the production of
adhesive can either be an acidic or basic type. The
effect of a basic gelatinization modifier (NaOH) was
investigated. In the investigations with the acidic
(HCL) modifier, the adhesive produced at 80oC was
found to have the properties that compare favorably
with the commercial adhesives. Hence this
temperature was used in the production of adhesives
at different concentrations of the modifier; hence its
effect on the properties of the adhesive was
investigated.

The effect the viscosity enhancer (NaOH) on the

viscosity, density and pH of the adhesives produced
at 80o C and various concentrations of borax are
shown in Figure 9, 10 and 11 respectively.

Borax is used as a thickener and gives the required

viscosity and structure to adhesives (Atar and Peter,
2010). Results from Figure 6 shows that as the mass
of borax in the adhesive was increased, the adhesive
became thicker, flowed slower, hence an increase in

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 Research Journal in Engineering and Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2276-8467) 1(4):219-214
Production of Cassava Starch-Based Adhesive
The amounts of aqueous sodium hydroxide added in
producing an adhesive has been reported by Paridah
and Masgrave, (2006) to greatly influence the
viscosity of the resulting adhesive. Addition of
sodium hydroxide also makes the adhesive thinner
(Kurt and Mengelogla, 2008). The overall effect is
that as the concentration of the modifier (sodium
hydroxide NaOH) is increased the adhesive produced
become watery, is less jelly-like, lighter, will flow
faster and its resistance to flow will decrease; hence
the viscosity of the adhesive increases with increase
in the concentration of the modifier (NaOH) as
shown in Figure 8. Similar trends were reported in
the works of Keskin et. al., (2010).
The use of borax with small amounts of sodium
hydroxide has been reported by Toker et. al., (2009)
to change the polymer in an adhesive to a more
highly branched chain having higher molecular
weight and higher water holdout capability. For the
adhesive produced with 0.2g borax, the density
decreases with increase in the concentration of the
modifier while, for that produced with 0.4g borax the
density increased with increase in the concentration
of the modifier. Increasing the concentration of the
modifier makes the adhesive lighter, hence decrease
223
in density. However as the amount of borax, the
thickening agent is increased, the adhesive becomes
thicker with higher molecular weight; this effect
dominates resulting in an increase in density of the
adhesive produced with 0.4g of borax as shown in
Figure 9. Sodium hydroxide has been reported to
have a neutralizing effect on adhesives (Li et. al.,
2004). Therefore the use of a base modifier will make
the adhesive produced more basic, hence the pH of
the adhesive will increase. These trends are shown in
Figure 10.
Drying Time and Bond Strength
Adhesives produced with HCL had a drying time of
4.04 - 4.16 minutes while those produced with NaOH
had a drying time of 7.1 - 7.20 minutes. The
adhesives produced with NaOH had stronger bond
after tagging than adhesives produced with HCL.
CONCLUSION
An alternative use of cassava starch has been
successfully achieved through its use in the
production of an adhesive. Possible improvements of
the properties of the adhesives produced have been
presented by studying the effects of the temperature,
mass (concentration) of borax and the gelatinization
modifier (HCL or NaOH) used in the production
process on the viscosity, density and pH of adhesive.
The effect of the gelatinization modifier (HCL and
NaOH) on the drying time and bond strength of the
adhesive was also investigated. These results provide
a wide range of conditions for producing starch-based
adhesives for diverse applications depending on the
required properties and industrial applications.
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