Technical Abstract: The development of effective bio-based adhesives would benefit the particleboard manufacturing industry through reduced product costs, environmental concerns and petroleum dependency. While most synthetic adhesives currently used are petroleum-based derivatives, desirable bio-based adhesives could be developed from renewable agricultural resources. Commercial rice bran has starch and protein for making adhesive used in the production of particleboards. The objective of this study was to improve the adhesive properties of defatted rice bran by thermal and chemical treatments. Three temperature levels (80, 100, and 120 °C) and pHs (8, 10, and 12) were tested. Furthermore, the influence of sodium sulfite and sodium bisulfite on adhesive properties was also investigated. Adhesive performance was evaluated based on the maximum force required for shearing the adhesive bond between soft maple wood pieces. Modifying rice bran with heat and alkali improved adhesive strength over the unmodified bran counterpart. Adhesive strength increased from 44 N for the untreated control to 181 N for the sample treated at 100 °C and pH 12. The improved bio-based adhesive can be eventually used for the production of composite panels, such as plywood, particleboards and fiberboards.