NE506: Wood Utilization Research on US Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials Composites Production, and Traditional Forest Products
Annual/Termination Reports (SAES-422): [06/01/2008] [03/01/2010]
Date of Annual Report: 06/01/2008
Report Information:
Participants:
- Valerie Barber
- Catalino Blanche
- Brian Brashaw
- Donna Dewitt
- Sue Dimmick
- Barry Goodell
- Daniel Keathley
- Richard LeMaster
- Tom McLain
- Joseph McNeel
- Shri Ramaswamy
- Deb Segla
- Fred Servello
- Joe Sullivan
- Jinxin Wang
- Paul Winistorfer
- Tim Young
- [Also: Liam Leightley, Laurent Matuana, Sue Nokes - March 4th only, William Tze, Ben Dawson, Kyung-Hwan Han]
Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
This is the first meeting of project participants for NE506 and it was held in conjunction with the annual Wood Utilization Research (WUR) National Directors Meeting. This Rapid Response Project was initiated in response to the loss of funding for the WUR Special Grant in FY07. These funds were a portion of one-time additional Hatch formula grant appropriations in FY07, and NE506 provided a mechanism for use of these one-time funds to carry on WUR projects, at the discretion of Experiment Station Directors. With the scheduled termination of the NE506 on July 31, 2009, the agenda for this meeting focused in part on the question of whether to develop a regular Multi-State project and associated administrative procedures rather than on research program coordination.Current Program Status and New Developments at All Participating Universities:
Alaska - Moved research facility to Palmer, AK - Key research program is wood chemistry characterization (e.g., birch bark chemistry, birch for biofuels/biochemicals production); bio-waste cooperative research with WSU; also working with Sitka Tribe on research applications and outreach; fire damaged dead wood; chemical characterization of fast growing wood species; pelletizing of beetle kill/fire kill/small diameter trees.
Michigan State University - (see PowerPoint slides by Dan Keathley)
North Carolina State University - Machine tool center is heavily involved with industry applications; have a multidisciplinary institute cooperating with most departments on campus; involved in tool/machine dynamics; process analytics/monitoring; surface quality evaluation; working with Steve Shaler on process monitoring of abrasive characteristics during sanding; hired two new faculty members even in presence of state budget restrictions; green home wireless sensing monitoring (e.g., moisture detection, etc.); curriculum in wood science has three options (business or wood science or industry options).
Oregon State University - Involved in many research projects with several important concentrations, e.g., o Green life cycle analysis for wood, LEEDS, FSC certification, leveraging with CORRUM funding created a 501C organization; o Eric Hansen (extension) with Scott Leavengood, e.g., business systems integration, innovation and business competitiveness, barriers to adoption of innovation and change, quantifying these barriers with Innovation Acceptance Index, Oregon Wood Innovation Center (mechanism to transfer important WUR results) has received much publicity and positive press; o Mike Milota, e.g., collecting real-time MC information for high speed production sorting of wood products, sort by classes of drying for Douglas Fir, Hemlock, etc.; nano-based research looking at green technology (nano example - crystalline cellulose turns opaque in electric field). o Fred Kamke, e.g., development of an on-line certification program for wood composites manufacturing around the world; e-campus concept offered to global industry personnel; contracted with 12-15 people around U.S. to provide support and input for e-campus. o Jeff Morrell, e.g., on-line management system for poles, train new inspectors, support in management of large investment by utilities around U.S. o Forest engineering, e.g., improved inventory analysis, RF identification of chips to monitor how we move biomass out of the forest, more studies of biomass in western U.S., in forest log segmentation using NIR scan of sawdust from cutter-head, inventory system logs.
University of Tennessee - Eight faculty positions currently in Forest Products Center - Strong emphasis recently on biofuels and biochemicals with Sun Grant Center at UT and UT Office of Bioenergy Programs (state support), cooperating with ORNL. Development of large scale ethanol plant from switch grass in Venore, TN, strong state support, cooperating with private sector (also research scale cellulosic ethanol pilot plant on UT campus). Studying the pre-extraction of biochemicals and biofuels from OSB flakes. Joe Bozell and Nicole Labbe heavily involved in biochemical and biofuels programs. - Siqun Wangs program in wood composites and OSB continues to strive with emphasis in nano-scale research of cell wall strength properties - David Harper studying advanced materials using wood, e.g., compatibilization of natural fibers with synthetic polymers using triblock copolymers as coupling agents, etc. - Adam Taylor research in moisture content and drying applications of solid wood using NIR spectroscopy, also recent study on the reduced mold susceptibility of OSB under different conditions of pre-extracted southern pine strands (directly related to study of pre-extraction of biochemicals and biofuels from OSB flakes). - Tim Youngs focus on process analytics for forest products industry continues, e.g., real-time process analytics systems exist in several wood composite mills in southeast, meta-systems next logical step, wireless SPC systems exist in sawmills, recent applications to whisky barrel manufacture, industry training course still very popular.
University of Minnesota, Duluth - (see PowerPoint slides by Brian Brashaw)
University of Minnesota - (see PowerPoint slides by Shri Ramaswamy)
University of Maryland - Research with trees and wood utilization and chemical extractives - Urban waste utilization project, e.g. goal is full utilization of urban residue - Increased market utilization of wood products from landfills, urban waste, etc.
Virginia Tech - Discussed the biofuels/biochemicals working group cluster at VT which is an interdisciplinary, inter-collegiate group within VT doing biofuels/biochemicals research (recent hire in department in 2007 of full professor Kevin Edgar from Eastman Chemical) see handout distributed at meeting by Paul - Discussed research initiatives of faculty of Department of Wood Science and Forest Products see handout distributed at meeting by Paul
Mississippi State University - Economic Development and the Forest Based Marketplace - Chemicals and Energy from Wood - Engineered Wood Products - New Manufacturing Systems for Wood Based Industries - Performance of Wood Structures in Housing - Furniture
Accomplishments:
At the time of the annual meeting, most schools had been part of the project for only a few months, so there are no accomplishments at this point.
Impact Statements:
- Through participation in this integrated multistate research effort, we hope to extend our capabilities allowing the participating University programs to contribute to an enhanced understanding of wood science and utilization.
Date of Annual Report: 03/01/2010
Report Information:
Participants:
- University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Cornell University
- Iowa State University
- University of Kentucky
- University of Maine
- Michigan State University
- University of Minnesota
- University of Tennessee
- University of Massachusetts
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- West Virginia University
- Washington State University
Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
University of Alaska Fairbanks Research has been focused on renewable hydrocarbon production from Alaska biomass via pyrolysis and gasification processes.Cornell University Different harvesters and planters were evaluated for their performance and quality for harvesting shrub willow (Salix spp.) biomass and planting of seedlings. A high-throughput, low-cost method to characterize the biomass composition for biofuel conversion was developed using high resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HR-TGA).
Iowa State University The team is focused on four areas: polymerization of renewable oils, processing of protein-based plastics, protein-based adhesives, and cellulosic-based composites. Protein hydrolysates were reacted with phenol-formaldehyde resin and the adhesive produced was used for production of flakeboard and medium density fiberboard.
University of Kentucky Enhanced utilization of cellulosic biomass for the production of biodiesel and bioethanol via thermochemical and microorganism conversion is being conducted as part of this research effort.
University of Maine There are seven groups on campus conducting a variety of studies including the production of new wood-derived chemicals, hybrid materials, composites, sustainable biofuels, and the improvement of manufacturing technology for oriented wood strand composites.
Michigan State University The primary goal of this group was to develop hybrid structural composite products using nanoclay and carbon nanotube-reinforced thermoplastics combined with underutilized hardwoods. The second goal of this research project was to produce transgenic trees ectopically expressing candidate genes that control wood fiber characteristics.
University of Minnesota The objectives of this project are centered in two inter-related areas: the development and application of innovative structural biomaterials from wood, lignocellulose and hybrid materials, and the production of new biofuels/biochemicals from wood. Project goals include development of new wood composites and hybrid wood, lignocellulose and polymer matrix composites.
University of Tennessee Research has been focused on characterization of OSB products made of hemicellulose-removed strands. The production of bio-based nanoscale materials from biorefinery carbohydrates has been investigated as well.
University of Massachusetts The mechanical behavior of wood-concrete composites systems were studied as part of this research effort, for their long term performance.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The participation of the university was primarily from the perspective of enhanced communication with other national colleagues conducting research on biofuels and biomaterials.
West Virginia University The WVU Biomaterials and Wood Utilization Research Center has 14 faculty members. Their projects are focused on the development of new products and techniques for better utilization of upland hardwoods in the Appalachian region.
Washington State University Research investigations for this project at WSU were focused on the manufacture and property evaluation of several natural fiber/biobased polyester composites.
Accomplishments:
Please see the PowerPoint slides at http://woodscience.umaine.edu/goodell/NE506.pdf for the accomplishments of all participating universities except for Washington State University whose accomplishments are listed here in the following:WSU Accomplishments: Adding bamboo fiber into poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), a cornstarch based polymer, substantially increased the mechanical properties of the composite. Boron nitride was found to increase the overall properties of the neat polymer and the composites due to the refined crystalline structure. Maleic anhydride grafted PHBV increased the strength and the modulus, but reduced the toughness of the composites due to improved polymer/fiber adhesion. Composites with high fiber content and high levels of mechanical and physical properties were prepared using sugar beet pulp (SBP) and poly lactic acid (PLA). A novel biosynthetic approach that combines the biosynthesis of cellulose nanofibers with a blending step in a polymer matrix has been developed. This method allows tailoring the composition and morphology of the produced nanocomposites. As a result one can manipulate the physical and mechanical properties of the cellulosic nanocomposites.
Impact Statements:
- This multistate effort was focused on new methods for the production of wood and other bio-based fuels, chemicals, materials, and composites through biological, chemical, and engineering processes.
- This project, which links varied research programs in collaborations, was designed to ensure efficient and sustainable utilization of forest resources.
- It will expand the range of applications and market competitiveness of wood-based products and will bring benefits of reduced dependence on foreign oil, economic stability and growth, increased industrial capacity, job creation and development of green technologies.
- The results from this project were presented in national and international conferences and published in many peer reviewed journals.