Whoa, you're using an old browsers aren't you? This site would look better if you upgraded. We recommend Mozilla Firefox

NE506: Wood Utilization Research on US Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials Composites Production, and Traditional Forest Products

Statement of Issues and Justification

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. Initially three states will be involved in this multistate effort but as other programs around the country develop interest, this research can be expanded to include a broader nation-wide effort.

Our overall goal is the enhanced utilization of wood and the development of sustainable and environmentally appropriate solutions to national problems.

Specific objectives include:

  1. Exploration of new methods for producing biofuels from non-food substrates
  2. Elucidation of biological and chemical mechanisms involved in lignocellulose biomodification
  3. Investigation of the logistical issues of blending, transport, and storage of lignocellulosic bioethanol
  4. Production of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers from lignocellulosic plant materials
  5. Ascertain what industrial tracking technologies are available, and which alternatives have the greatest likelihood for success in the hardwood sawmilling industry for log to board tracking.
  6. Develop hybrid structural composite products using underutilized upland hardwoods and formulated through innovative compositions of waste materials
  7. Development of new fiber-based composite products
  8. Improvement of viability of OSB and OSL plants in the northeastern United States
  9. Enhancemnent of environmentally appropriate production and harvesting methods for woody biomass in Appalachia.
  10. Design of a system to incorporate previously developed Ground Penetrating Radar based defect detection equipment into the overall saw mill process layout for canted logs.
  11. Produce high strength composite organic fillers (MOE = 150 GPA), cellulose nanocrystals, from lignocellulose biomass (wood), as potential commercial substitutes for current commercial nanofillers, nanoclay
  12. Remove the recalcitrance (difficulty) of converting lignocellulose biomass to D-glucose and therefore greatly enhance its bioconversion to bioethanol and oil-derived chemical substitutes
  13. Improve the surface properties of engineered wood products to enhance performance such as weathering, swelling and shrinkage
  14. Develop rapid, non-contact methods for on/at-line determination of moisture contents of veneer and strands; rapid identification and sorting of wood by species, and determination of resin levels of medium density fibers
  15. Development of chemical and biochemical transformation pathways for production of value added chemicals from hemicellulose and lignin

Last Modified: 14-Jun-2007

Back to Top