Protein-containing adhesives, and manufacture and use thereof

An adhesive composition in the form of an emulsion, comprising:

• (a) from about 5% to about 50% (w/w) of a reactive prepolymer, wherein the reactive prepolymer is an organic polyisocyanate;
• (b) ground plant meal in an amount sufficient to disperse the reactive prepolymer in an aqueous medium, wherein the ground plant meal is derived from corn, wheat, sunflower, cotton, rapeseed, canola, castor, soy, camelina, flax, jatropha, mallow, peanuts, sugarcane bagasse, tobacco, or a combination thereof;
• the ground plant meal being present in an amount from about 5% to about 35% (w/w) of the adhesive composition;
• (c) from about 0.1% to about 5% w/w of at least one first additive selected from the group consisting of a partially exfoliated clay, an exfoliated clay, an intercalated clay, cellulose nanoparticles, and a mixture of a silicone and a terpene compound;
• and
• (d) from about 30% (w/w) to about 60% (w/w) water.