Network for the Valorization of Plant Materials (VPMA)

Wood Adhesives (Tanzania)
I (90-1019); II (92-1452)

Principal investigators: 
Mr. Bonaventure A. Mwingira: Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization, Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) 
E-mail: [email protected] 
Mr. Jack Shields: Forintek Canada Corporation, Québec (Canada) 
E-mail: [email protected] 

In Tanzania, the overall objective of the Wood Adhesives (Tanzania) Project was to develop and optimize economical exterior grade and low-cost wood adhesives from locally produced wattle tannin and Cashew Nut Shell Liquid that could be adapted to Tanzanian particleboard and plywood plants. At the same time maximize the use of local resources and promote local employment creation and income generation. The objective of the second phase was to reduce losses due to insects and fungi attacks on wood and wood products while maximizing the use of a local, nontoxic natural preservative. The project succeeded in developing wood adhesive formulations based on Wattle tannin extract as a major ingredient. Industrial trials using these formulations have been performed successfully  in Tanzania at M/s SikhSaw Mills (T) Ltd. and at TemboChiboards Ltd. Also, wood preservative formulations for solid wood and particleboard's were prepared and successfully tested. Market analysis has been conducted within Tanzania and in neighbouring countries with industrialists showing a keen interest for these new glues.