Algal bio-adhesive

Abstract

An algal bio-adhesive comprising algae mass, a crosslinking agent and an inorganic filler.

1 . An algal bio-adhesive comprising algae mass, a crosslinking agent and an inorganic filler. 
     
     
         2 . The algal bio-adhesive according to  claim 1 , comprising a defoaming agent. 
     
     
         3 . The algal bio-adhesive according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 20 to 60% by weight solid content, and   40 to 80% by weight liquid content,   in which the solid content comprises:   50 to 89% by weight of algae mass;   1 to 20% by weight of a crosslinking agent; and   10 to 30% by weight of inorganic filler.   
     
     
         4 . The algal bio-adhesive according to  claim 3 , in which the liquid content comprises water, and optionally 0.01 to 5% by weight of a defoaming agent. 
     
     
         5 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , wherein the algae mass comprises at least one of blue-green algae, red algae, and brown algae, which can be harvested from river and ocean. 
     
     
         6 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , wherein the algae mass comprises algae cultivated in at least one of a pond or photobioreactor. 
     
     
         7 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , wherein the algae mass comprises genetically modified or enhanced or selected algae cultivated in a pond or photobioreactor. 
     
     
         8 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , wherein the algae mass has a water content less than 70%, preferably less than 40%, most preferably less than 20%. 
     
     
         9 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , wherein the algae mass is from a biodiesel process by-product of algae. 
     
     
         10 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of: at least one synthetic polymeric crosslinking agent; at least one inorganic material; and a mixture of at least one synthetic polymeric crosslinking agent and at least one inorganic material. 
     
     
         11 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 10 , in which the synthetic polymeric crosslinking agents are selected from the group consisting of: polyisocyanates, polyisocyanates with blocked isocyanate groups and epoxy resins; and the inorganic materials are selected from the group consisting of: silicates and borates. 
     
     
         12 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises at least one calcium compound selected from the group consisting of: calcium oxide, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide. 
     
     
         13 . The algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: at least one defoaming agent, at least one wet strength agent, at least one thickener and at least one crosslinking agent. 
     
     
         14 . A method for preparing algal bio-adhesives according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a. combining algal mass, a cross-linking agent, and fillers to form a blend using a mechanical mixer or blender,   b. milling the blend via a micronization milling machine or any other chosen mechanical milling machine to produce powdery material with particle size between 30-500 μm, preferably, between 30-250 μm, most preferably 30-125 μm,   c. mixing the powdery material with water, optionally with addition of other additives.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the blend consists 50-89% of the algal mass, 1.0-20% of crosslinking agent and 10-30% of fillers. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , in which the percentage of each additive used to form aqueous bio-adhesives is between 0.01-5%, preferably 0.1-5%. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the additives comprise at least one defoaming agent which is: a silicone-based defoaming agent; a polyether based defoaming agent; a higher alcohol defoaming agent; or a food grade defoaming agent, such as mineral oil, vegetable oil or white oil based defoaming agent. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the additives comprise at least one thickener which is a water soluble natural polymer such as cellulose derivatives, proteins, alginate and chitosan. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the additives comprise a wet strength agent which is polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE). 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the crosslinking agent is a polymeric isocyanate with the isocyanate group blocked. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 14 , in which the algal bio-adhesive has a solid content between 20-60%, preferably 20-50%, most preferably 20-40%. 
     
     
         22 . The algal bio-adhesive according to  claim 1 , for use in at least one application selected from the group consisting of: wood panel process as substitute of formaldehyde based wood adhesives; water-resistant glue for paper packaging industry; and hospital and school building board decoration, assembling and construction.