MINERAL WOOL BINDER

1 .- 27 . (canceled)

28 . A binder composition for mineral fibers, wherein the composition is formaldehyde-free and comprises (i) at least one phenol and/or quinone containing compound, (ii) at least one protein, and (iii) at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol.

29 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (i) comprises a phenol containing compound.

30 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (i) comprises one or more of a hydroxybenzoic acid, a hydroxybenzoic aldehyde, a hydroxyacetophenone, a hydroxyphenylacetic acid, a cinnamic acid, a cinnamic acid ester, a cinnamyl aldehyde, a cinnamyl alcohol, a coumarin, an isocoumarin, a chromone, a flavonoid, a chalcone, a dihydrochalcone, an aurone, a flavanone, a flavanonol, a flavan, a leucoanthocyanidine, a flavan-3-ol, a flavone, an anthocyanidine, a deoxyanthocyanidine, an anthocyanine, a biflavonyl, a benzophenone, a xanthone, a stilbene, a benzoquinone, a naphthoquinone, an anthraquinone, a betacyanine, a polyphenol, a polyhydroxyphenol, a lignan, a neolignan (dimers or oligomers formed by coupling of monolignols), a lignin, a tannin, a condensed tannin (proanthocyanidine), a hydrolysable tannin, a gallotannin, an ellagitannin, a complex tannin, tannic acid, a phlobabene, a lawsone.

31 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (i) comprises one or more of tannic acid, a condensed tannin (proanthocyanidine), a hydrolysable tannin, a gallotannin, an ellagitannin, a complex tannin, and a tannin originating from one or more of oak, chestnut, staghorn sumac and fringe cups.

32 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (i) comprises one or more synthetic or semisynthetic molecules which contain a phenol, a polyphenol and/or a quinone.

33 . The binder composition of claim 32 , wherein (i) comprises one or more of a protein, a peptide, a peptoid, an arylopeptoid, and a polystyrene modified with phenol and/or quinone containing side chains.

34 . The binder composition of claim 33 , wherein (i) comprises a dendrimer comprising phenol and/or quinone containing side chains.

35 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (ii) comprises at least one protein from animal sources.

36 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (ii) comprises at least one protein from vegetable sources.

37 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (i) comprises at least one tannin in a concentration of 1-70 wt. % based on dry protein.

38 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein a mass ratio of (lysine+cysteine) in (ii) to (phenol+quinone) in (i) is from 1:5.78 to 1:0.08.

39 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (iii) is present in the form of a plant oil and/or an animal oil.

40 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (iii) is present as one or more of linseed oil, olive oil, tung oil, coconut oil, hemp oil, rapeseed oil, and sunflower oil.

41 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (iii) comprises a plant oil and/or animal oil having an iodine number of ≥75 and/or an iodine number of ≤100.

42 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein (iii) is present in a concentration of from 0.5 wt.-% to 40 wt.-%, based on dry protein.

43 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more additives selected from oxidants, metal ions, and pH-adjusters.

44 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein the composition has a pH of higher than 7.

45 . The binder composition of claim 28 , wherein composition further comprises at least one linker comprising amine and/or thiol groups.

46 . A mineral wool product, wherein the product comprises mineral fibers bonded by the binder composition of claim 28 .

47 . A method of producing a mineral wool product, wherein the method comprises contacting mineral fibers with the binder composition of claim 28 and curing the binder composition.