Development of Cassava-Based Bio-Adhesive Using Polyvinyl Acetate
(P.V.A.) for Engineered Wood Products Manufacturing
Emmanuel Okiri Ushie
*
., Emmanuel Akomaye Ugbong., Atowon Dickson, Orok Okon
Department of Wood Products Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Cross River State,
Calabar, Nigeria
*
Corresponding Author
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.120800330
Received: 07 Aug 2025; Accepted: 17 Aug 2025; Published: 13 October 2025
INTRODUCTION
Adhesives are glue substances that serve as a binder which holds up materials together that is 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. Vegetable glues are starch-
based and are made from starches and dextrin (Kennedy, 2013). Starch has several advantages as a raw
material in the production of adhesives, including: renewability, biodegradability, abundance, relatively cheap
and affordability (Agboola, et al., 2010) and can also be used to produce diverse products as food, paper,
textiles, beverages, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, and building materials (FAO, 2010).
Starch is produced from grain or root crops such as sweet potatoes, maize, wheat, rice, yam and cassava. The
advantages of cassava for starch production over other grains or root crop includes: high purity level, excellent
thickening characteristics, a neutral (bland) taste, desirable textural characteristics, is relatively cheap and it
contains a high concentration of starch (dry-matter basis), (Masamba et al., 2001).
Cassava starch (Manihot esculenta) has numerous characteristics, including high paste viscosity, high paste
clarity and high freeze-thaw stability which are advantageous to many industries. Cassava (Manihot
esculental) 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. Cassava
(Manihot esculenta) is a staple crop and food in many tropical regions, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin
America. It is widely cultivated for its starchy tuberous roots, which are a significant source of carbohydrates
in diets. The occurrence of cassava (Manihot esculenta) is prevalent in countries with suitable climates, and it
plays a crucial role in food security for many communities. In Nigeria, it is consumed raw or fried 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, 2015). Cassava based adhesives
have the unique advantage of having smooth, clear fine texture, non-staining, more viscous, stable and neutral
pH. The nonpoisonous nature makes it a desirable choice 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, 2014). 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 different modifiers in the production of the adhesive.