http://fbri.edublogs.org Summer 2009 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:54:32 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Morgan Urello Mentor: Dr. Nancy Kravit Woody biomass contains primarily three macromolecular components, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.  Each has specific yet very different uses and optimization of the use of woody biomass as a renewable resource is directly correlated with the efficiency of the fractionation method used for separation.  Wood component separation ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/23/an-alternative-to-traditional-methods-of-chemical-fractionation-of-woody-biomass-through-the-use-of-an-enzyme-pretreatment-focusing-on-the-lignin-hemicellulose-bond/ By: Alex Haluska Faculty Advisor: Adriaan van Heiningen Graduate Advisor: Rory Jara Hemicellulose extracts, wood pulp, have been identified as a byproduct from the production of higher value-added products such as ethanol and pulp in an Integrated Forest Bio-refinery (IFBR). In the IFBR process hemicelluloses are partially extracted via an aqueous solution at ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/22/study-of-the-s02-partial-pressure-on-aqueous-solutios-as-a-function-of-temperature-time-and-so2-concentration/ Rob Jonson Mentor: Peter can Walsum Currently the kraft pulping process burns hemicelluloses to recover energy.  However, the hemicellulose can be extracted from pulping process and utilized to produce fuels and other chemicals.  Unfortunately the green liquor extraction process only produces dilute hemicellulose extract that must be concentrated before it can be ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/22/utilizing-ultrafiltration-for-the-concentration-of-hemicellulose-extracts-from-the-kraft-pulping-process/ Alex Shaffer Advisors: Drs. Barbara Cole and Raymond Fort Foliage from the Picea species will be investigated as a potential macro-scale source of shikimic acid.    Shikimic acid is an important reagent in the synthesis of oseltamivir phosphate, or Tamiflu, which is used in the treatment of the H5N1 strain (bird flu) and ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/22/extraction-of-shikimic-acid-from-the-picea-species/ Audrey Polifka Mentor: One avenue to the conversion of cellulosic biomass into ethanol is to extract a by-product stream from the wood chips entering a kraft pulp mill. It has been shown that under optimized conditions, aqueous extraction can yield a dilute stream of fermentable wood-derived sugars while still maintaining the pulp ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/22/acid-springing-and-extraction-using-trioctylamine/ John Attonito Advisors: Yousoo Han, Douglas J. Gardner, Yucheng Peng Cellulose is an increasingly important part of the materials industry.  It is the most abundant material on Earth and its natural ability for self adhesion has long been recognized. On the nano-scale, microcrystalline and cellulose nanofibrils have been shown to have similar ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/22/evaluation-of-nanocellulose-fibrils-on-mechanical-properties-in-amorphous-inorganic-composites/ Jacqueline Beckvermit Mentor: Dr. Doug Bousfield Abstract: The increase in public awareness and pressure to discover and use a renewable resource while having an ecologicallyfriendly process is reaching the paper industry.  Many publication grade papers are coated with pigments that need petroleum based binders to obtain a high quality print.  Other uncoated ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/cellulose-nanofiber-coated-paper/ Rachel Bowman Mentor: Anthony Halog Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a commonly accepted technique for determining the environmental sustainability of a product or process. The goal of this research is to complete a cradle to gate LCA of wood hemicellulose derived bio-ethanol from a modified Kraft mill that produces pulp and paper ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/life-cycle-assessment-of-wood-hemicellulose-derived-bio-ethanol/ Alden Earle Mentored by David Neivandt Wood chips utilized in a kraft pulp mill are chemically broken down to remove lignin from cellulose and hemicellulose.  Though numerous applications have been found for the later, lignin (approximately 30% of the dry mass of wood) has proven to be more difficult to utilize and ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/turning-lignin-into-carbon-nano-materials/ Author:  Nick Dunn Advisor: Dr. Brian Frederick Methods are being developed to convert wood into fuels like heating oil and gasoline that will reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign oil. Wood is a renewable resource and fuels derived from it can reduce the effects of global warming because growth ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/characterization-of-hydrodeoxygenation-catalysts-in-the-upgrading-of-the-model-compound-guaiacol-in-pyrolysis-oil/ Rosie Ochoa Advisor: Dr. Nancy Kravit The purpose of this project is to use woody biomass efficiently by discovering enzymes that break ether bonds between lignin and hemicellulose. Wood has three major macromolecular components: cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. It is believed ether bonds between lignin and hemicelluloses are a primary reason for ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/fluorescent-enzymes/ Annemarie Nauert Advisors: Dr. Fort & Dr. Cole As natural resources have become increasingly valued, there has been a movement in the pulp and paper industry towards a more holistic model of resource use and production.  This includes interest in potentially high value compounds found in the bark and foliage of trees, ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/18/an-investigation-into-the-existance-of-high-value-compounds-found-in-the-bark-and-foliage-of-trees/ Jacob Schual-Berke Advisor: Dr. Doug Bousfield Cellulose is the most abundant biological compound on the planet, with exceptional physical and chemical properties. Cellulose nanofibers (several nanometers in diameter) possess superior properties, such as increased tensile strength, elasticity and toughness because of their web-like structure. Modern technologies have made it possible to mechanically ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/18/novel-nanocellulose-polymer-composites-as-green-materials/ Diego Rosso Advisors: Adriaan van Heiningen and Rory Jara Aqueous hemicellulose extracts from wood are considered a viable resource for the production of higher value products such as ethanol. The proposed process extracts hemicelluloses mainly as xylan-oligomers from wood material. Red maple ( Acer rubrum L.) wood will be  used for the ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2009/07/18/diego-rosso/ Student: Melody Rhine Mentors: Barbara Cole, Ray Fort Abstract: Substantial amounts of forest biomaterials including knotwood, bark, and foliage are underutilized in the forest products industry. The nature and distribution of extractives in waste biomaterials provide us with a potential source of high-value chemicals, such as trans-resveratrol. Trans-resveratrol (resveratrol), which is the ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/project-high-value-chemicals-from-bioresources/ Survey of Various Logging Equipment and Its Relative Capacity to Harvest Biomass in Maine Ian Stone Adviser: Dr. Benjamin The purpose of this project is to determine the amount and types of logging equipment utilized throughout the state of Maine. This project should provide knowledge about equipment that can be used in biomass ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/survey-of-various-logging-equipment-and-its-relative-capacity-to-harvest-biomass-in-maine/ Project: The chemistry of nanocellulose. Mentors: Dr. Barbara Cole, Dr. Ray Fort Student: Tatyana Khamatnurova-Tomlin Abstract: The research of nanofibers and nanofibrillated cellulose was undertaken by the FBRI team. The Cole/Fort group plans to study the chemical modification of these materials so that functionalized fibers can be produced and effectively incorporated into new polymers ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/the-chemistry-of-nanocellulose/ Non-food sources of liquid fuels Jesse Capecelatro, Dr. Peter van Walsum University of Maine Department of Chemical Engineering, 5737 Jenness Hall, Orono, ME 04469 Abstract In a joint collaboration to reduce our dependence on petroleum and harvest valuable byproducts in the pulp and paper industry, there is an interest to produce fuels or chemicals ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/non-food-sources-of-liquid-fuels/ An analysis of quantity and framing of articles in New England newspapers relating to forest biomass and bioproducts using content analysis Marci Scofield Advisor: Dr. Jessica Leahy The successful use of biomass energy is dependant upon the public’s willingness to accept a new technology. In Maine, where forestry is an integral part ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/an-analysis-of-quantity-and-framing-of-articles-in-new-england-newspapers-relating-to-forest-biomass-and-bioproducts-using-content-analysis/ Mike Jacobson Mentor: Steve Shaler FBRI 2008 Abstract The drying of wood to a low moisture content of 4 to 8% is an important process in the manufacture of Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and Oriented Strand Lumber (OSL). Continuous on-line monitoring of the moisture level is practiced in all commercial facilities. This project will ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/a-comparision-of-on-line-near-infrared-stand-alone-near-infrared-and-a-rapid-heatingscale-unit-in-the-drying-of-oriented-strand-board-osb-and-oriented-strand-lumber-osl/ The Identification of Forest Bio-Product Process Components through Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Abby Hamilton Advisor: Dr. Darrell Donahue Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has the potential to advance the productivity of the forest bio-refinery process by rapid identification of material components comprising of liquid extract and woody biomass. The potential exists for composition identification via NIRS to ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/the-identification-of-forest-bio-product-process-components-through-near-infrared-spectroscopy/ Market Analysis and Strategy Development Andrew Knox: Mentored by Jonathan Rubin, Caroline Noblet, and Mario Tiesl The Northeast region of the US is heavily endowed with forests and thus has the potential for high yields of forest bioproducts - one of which is cellulosic ethanol. The use of ethanol in gasoline ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/market-analysis-and-strategy-development/ Hydrolysis of near neutral hemicellulose extracts catalyzed by SO2. Jim Grundy’s project supervised by Adriaan van Heiningen and Rory Jara Abstract Hemicellulose extracts have been identified as a feed stock for the production of higher value added products such as ethanol in addition to pulp in an Integrated Forest Biorefinery (IFBR) based on ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/hydrolysis-of-near-neutral-hemicellulose-extracts-catalyzed-by-so2/ Zachary Gregory Abstract - Palltruder verse Woodtruder The purpose of this project is to produce wood plastic composite (wpc) pellets using the Palltruder (agglomeration) and compare them to pellets of an identical mix, made using a hot face palletizing die attached to the Davis Standard Woodtruder. Following the production of the pellets, ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/palltruder-verse-woodtruder/ Lucas Andrusyk Project: Production and Testing of WPCs manufactured from hot water extracted wood Mentor: Doug Gardner (207) 581-2846 Doug_gardner@umenfa.maine.edu Abstract: The FBRI project has developed a patent pending hot water extraction process for wood to produce a feedstock for chemicals and/or fuels. Currently, the extract from the wood is being investigated as a possible feedstock ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2008/06/29/production-and-testing-of-wpcs-manufactured-from-hot-water-extracted-wood/ Wood Fuel Chemistry (BangorDaily News 07/26/07 - pdf file) http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/08/20/wood-fuel-chemistry/ By Professor Stephen Shaler Merging Maine’s forest past and forest future (pdf file) http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/08/15/merging-maines-forest-past-and-forest-future-saturday-august-11-2007-bangor-daily-news/ Professor of Chemical Engineering Research Interests Fundamental chemical engineering aspects of pulp production and forest biomass conversion processes; in particular those of pulping, bleaching, recovery of pulping chemicals, and production of biomaterials and biofuels. My work is interdisciplinary, and strives to integrate a chemical mechanistic approach with that of transport phenomena, mass ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/08/02/dr-van-heiningen/ Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering: Coordinator of Biological Engineering Program Chemical & Biological Engineering FBRI Research: The use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could maximize the productivity of the forest bio-products process by aiding the separation of output woody biomass. NIRS and chemometric techniques could eventually be used online as a process ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/08/02/dr-donahue/ Assistant Professor of Forest Operations Current Research Interests: Supply Chain Management within Forest Industry specific focus given to: - link between forest / stand production and final product quality - analysis of transportation systems in forest industry - harvesting system selection FBRI Interview July 31, 2007 http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/FBRI/Investigators/Benjamin.m4a http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/31/dr-benjamin/ Professor of Wood Science and Technology: Cooperating Research Professor in the Lobster Institute School of Forest Resources Research Interest Polymer Science Wood Chemistry Polymer Processing Wood Adhesion and Adhesives Interfacing of Wood-FRP Hybrids Bonding of Wood-Plastic Composites VOC Collection and Analysis of Composi FBRI Interview, July 30, 2007 http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/FBRI/Investigators/Gardner.m4a http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/30/dr-gardner/ Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Chemical & Biological Engineering Research: Nanoprobe Design and Optimization for Biological/Materials Applications Passive and reactive molecular and quantum dot (metallic and semiconductor) nanoprobes, generally referred to as fluors, have shown great promise as localized reporters in a range of in vitro biochemical and materials ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/30/dr-mason/ Professor of Biological Sciences Cooperating Prof. of Microbiology Cooperating Professor of Forest Ecosystem ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/29/dr-jellison/ Post Doctoral with Dr. Heiningen Hemicelluloses Pre-Extration Modified Pulping Improve pulping yield Decrease alkali consumption Reduce organic & inorganic load to recovery Increased delignification rate Improve properties of pulp http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/FBRI/Investigators/Ban.m4a http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/29/dr-weiping-ban/ Professor of Chemical Engineering; Pulp and Paper Foundation Professor Chemical & Biological Engineering RESEARCH: Dr. Bousfield's research is directed at the application of fluid mechanics and rheology to industrial processes such as paper coating, paper web formation, printing, bubble coalescence, filtration, flotation, and polymeric film coating. Emphasis is placed on the development of ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/28/dr-doug-bousfield/ Assistant Professor of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Specializations and Research Interests: Outdoor Recreation Policy and Planning: - Benefits-Based Management - Social Capital & Trust - Citizen Participation - Gateway Communities Environmental Interpretation and Education http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/FBRI/Investigators/JessicaLeahy.m4a http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/28/dr-jessica-leahy/ Dr. Steve Shaler Professor of Wood Science and Technology Associate Director, Advanced Engineered Wood Composites (AEWC) 143 AEWC University of Maine Orono, ME 04469 Current Research Interests: Composite materials Optical methods in experimental mechanics Recycled wood/polymer interfacial behavior Modeling of structure property relations Faculty member in the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center FBRI Interview 07/18/07 http://efolio.umeedu.maine.edu/~tvassiliev/FBRI/Investigators/shaler.m4a http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/18/dr-shaler-faculty-member-in-the-advanced-engineered-wood-composites-center/ Dr. David Neivandt Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Chemical & Biological Engineering Jenness Hall319 Research: Cellulose Based Substrates for Interfacial Adsorption Studies This project is aimed at the development of cellulose based substrates which may be probed spectroscopically by both linear and non-linear optical techniques. The optimized substrates will be employed to elucidate interfacial ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/18/dr-neivandt-u-maine-department-chemical-biological-engineering/ Sara Walton works with Dr. Adriaan R. P. van Heiningen Professor of Chemical Engineering Their IFPR (Integrated Forest Products Refinery) work focuses on the production of polymers and biofuels from hemicelluloses extracted from wood chips before they are used for pulp production. The rational for the IFPR ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/18/sara-walton-phd-candidate/ University of Maine Chemistry Department Research: Overall Themes of Our Projects: the ultimate goal of our research is to develop the fundamental chemistry needed to produce new value-added products from wood. To this end, we are participants in the Maine Forest Bioproducts Research Institute, funded by the National Science Foundation. We ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/17/interview-with-dr-fort-dr-cole/ As part of the NSF-REU program here at the University of Maine I will be working with Dr. Stephen Shaler on a life cycle inventory (LCI) model on the manufacture of oriented strandboard (OSB). Oriented strandboard is a material made out of wood strands and adhesive that can be substituted for ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/12/life-cycle-inventory-on-the-production-of-osb-in-the-northeast-united-states-by-nathaniel-vacanti-dr-stephen-shaler/ Our project within the FBRI focuses on producing sustainable fuels and chemicals using catalytic thermochemical conversion. One of the ways this can be done is by pyrolysis. The woody biomass is heated in the absence of oxygen, producing oxygenated aromatic compounds. The oxygen must be removed to make fuels or ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/12/role-of-pore-size-on-thermalconversion-and-catalytic-product-distribution-by-alex-canney-clay-wheeler-brian-frederick/ This research will investigate how various fungal species are able to colonize and chemically modify lignocellulose. Fungi best grow in dark wet environments and can be found anywhere organic material is present. Yeasts, mushrooms, and molds are examples of fungi. Fungi are usually aerobic, but some yeasts are ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/12/stewart-gramlich/ The use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could maximize the productivity of the forest bio-products process by aiding the separation of output woody biomass. NIRS and chemometric techniques could eventually be used online as a process control tool for the forest bio-product process. But before this technology is applied, ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/abby-hamilton-andy-mishou/ One rapidly growing area of research involves the investigation of value added applications of paper products in areas of bio-separations and bio-detections. These novel systems are now being referred to as “bio-active paper”. One potential future application of this paper is in Biological Warfare Agents (BWA) and infectious diseases (ID) ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/11/nimesh-patel/ Research being done on forest bioproducts includes researching the efficiency and feasibility of using wood to produce ethanol. One of the three components of wood, hemicellulose, can be separated from the other two components and can then be fermented using bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). During fermentation, the ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/10/brittany-oetter/ The process of making nanofibrils is well-established today. Many groups around the world have found methods, but unfortunately none of these are very high-yield processes, and they are expensive. The challenge, then, is finding a way to get a high yield of nanofibrils, and doing so in such a ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/06/imaging-of-nanofibrils-by-atomic-force-microscopy-by-ryan-lena-dr-doug-bousfield/ Dr. Van Heiningen’s research group is working on a project called pre-extraction of modified kraft pulping to increase overall pulp yield and decrease the amount of necessary chemicals for the pulping process. Some background information regarding softwoods and hardwoods is important for understanding the pre-extraction process. Softwoods include woods such ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/05/gracson/ The work conducted will consist of two interconnected types of research based on the same topic. The research will include both chemistry lab work, as well as in the chemistry computer lab classroom. The experiments will be done with the enzyme, xylanase, and the substrate xylobiose. ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/04/xylanase-enzyme-by-andru-o%e2%80%99farrill-dr-ray-fort-dr-barbara-cole/ The specific goal of the research project is to use data mapping to find the best possible locations for biofuel plants in Maine, and the best methods to achieve the economically optimal supply side results of the Forest Products Research Initiative. The project goals will be accomplished by the following ... http://fbri.edublogs.org/2007/07/03/biomass-availability-in-maine-by-jacob-kavkewitz-jonathan-rubin/