Mimosa tenuiflora is an abundant species in the Brazilian semi-arid region which offers potential for the tannin production but need research indicating the best ways of its application. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of tannin from Mimosa tenuiflora for the formaldehyde tannin adhesive production with the plant collection period. The bark collections were carried out in the months of August and December of 2008 and in April and August of 2009, in Lameirão farm, in municipality of Santa Terezinha, Paraíba state, Brazil, being collected 10 plants per period, totaling 40 plants. The barks were taken from the trunk and branches up to 3.0 cm in diameter, ground into mill knives and classified in sieves, having been employed for the extraction of tannins, particles less than 1.0 x 2.0 cm and superior than 0.2 x 0.2 cm. The extract tannic for the adhesives production was extracted in distilled water in an autoclave at boiling temperature of water at atmospheric pressure, concentrated by evaporation and kept in an oven at 70 ± 3 °C until the complete evaporation of moisture, and was evaluated the total solid content, Stiasny's index and condensed tannin content in the bark by collection period. To produce the adhesives, an acid sulphitation of tannins was obtained. There was influence of period of collection of the plants in condensed tannin contents. It was found in adhesives produced with the tannins of Mimosa tenuiflora, solid content values, similar to those of Acacia mearnsii, no significant difference between collection periods for the solid content and gelatinization time of adhesives was obtained. However, the collection period influenced the pH and viscosity of adhesives. The adhesives produced showed high viscosity, indicating the need for research to improve the adhesives produced.
species from Caatinga; condensed tannins; characteristics of adhesive
