The potential of chitosan (CS) as wood adhesive was investigated in this study. The measurement of the bond strength of different CS-based formulations was carried out using double-lap shear tests. The best formulation tested was an adhesive composed of 6% of CS, 1% of glycerol, and 5 mmol/L of trisodium citrate dehydrate. Best bond strength from this formulation was found to be equal to 6.0 MPa in dried conditions and 1.6 MPa in wet conditions (specimens immersed for 3 h at 30 degrees C in water). The failure in the double-lap joint tests mainly occurred in wood. Finally, the penetration of the rhodamine-labeled CS at 4% in the pinewood matrix was also studied using microtome and microscopy techniques to show interactions between CS-based adhesive and wood. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2013