Progress 05/15/07 to 01/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The use of oxalic acid as a pretreatment for enhancing the quality of medium density fiberboard, MDF, has had several outputs. First, several new techniques has been developed with experimentation throughout this project using a variety of temperatures and chemical loading. Also, using membrane filtration has developed an innovative method for concentration of sugar hydrolysates. Second, several summer students from Clark Atlanta University were able to work on the project, which allowed them to contribute to the project objectives, but also receive some learning, through mentoring, about wood engineering and biotechnology in the fiberboard industry. Third, the successful development of this technology has enhanced existing manufacturing of MDF through collaborations with industry that see a need for making new sources of materials available that can be used for MDF and provide a fermentation resource for local ethanol production in areas that have little available grain
production. Fourth, the extracted sugar hyrolysates have been shared with a number of research institutions for evaluation of fermentative ability. These evaluations through conducting and analyzing experiments have assisted researchers and students to better understand the nature of the hydrolysates and the best organisms for optimal ethanol production. Finally, BioPulping International has filed for a provisional patent to protect the oxalic acid technology as a pretreatment to MDF production. The collaborative efforts of the Forest Products Laboratory and the University of Wisconsin have significantly helped to progress this project as well as contributing to this novel technology.
PARTICIPANTS: Forest Products Laboratory collaborators include Dr. William Kenealy, Research Microbiologist. Dr. Kenealy was helpful in concentration of sugar hydrolysates and fermentation. Dr. Jerry Winandy, Forest Products Research Scientist, was responsible for preparation, production, and quality of final MDF. Both scientists were able to provide training and mentoring to both summer student internship programs as well as visiting scientists. BioPulping International contributions include Dr. Masood Akhtar, CEO of BPI and PI of the project. Dr. Akhtar was crucial in experimental planning and data analysis. Finally, Eric Horn, Research Microbiologist for BPI, provided technical expertise for the pretreatment, sugar extractions, fiberization, sample collection, and sample facilitation.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for this research effort are three fold. First the MDF industry is very enthusiastic for the research shown here in order for the development of an MDF product that is highly water resistant. MDF is one of four main categories of wood based panels, laminated boards, particle boards, fiber boards and oriental strand boards. The level of conversion of the wood raw material into veneers, particles or fibers distinguishes these different types of boards. MDF is a type of fiberboard made from wood or other lignocellulosic materials, refined into fibers and reconstituted with a resin binder, or glue, carried out at elevated temperatures. It has the mechanical and physical characteristics approaching the levels associated with solid wood and in many applications can be used as an ideal substitute for solid wood. However, in humid climates, MDF tends to mold and deteriorate more readily due to moisture and normal decay. The oxalic acid pretreated MDF
can help to eliminate these problems and open the door for many new markets. Secondly, the United States Forest Service is a significant target audience if alternative substrates from overcrowded forests are used for this process. The rural economic development will be an advantage, but if material thinned from our forests can be used then the health of the forests and help in prevention of forest fires. Third, the United States Department of Energy is the last target audience, as this technology will enhance our resource base by providing new carbohydrate for fermentation. Each new identified source of carbohydrate that can be converted into fuels and chemicals will help to increase our energy independence.
Impacts
A collaborative effort between BioPulping International, the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, and the University of Wisconsin have developed a new pretreatment using a dilute solution of oxalic acid, patent pending, with red pine for medium density fiberboard, also know as MDF, which compared to controls was more resistant to water infiltration in 24 hour swelling and water adsorption tests. Furthermore, the wood chips can be extracted of valuable sugars after the pretreatment and these sugars can be readily fermented into ethanol. Presently ethanol is made where grain is available. The product from our pretreatment is a water soluble sugar resource that can be converted into ethanol or other fermentation products. An ethanol manufacturing facility could be located with a MDF plant. Locating new ethanol production in areas where there is limited grain will allow for locally produced ethanol to be incorporated into transportation fuels with less expense. Additional
impact can be derived if material from overcrowded forests is used for this process. The rural economic development will be an advantage, but if material thinned from our forests can be used then the health of the forests and help in prevention of forest fires will also be increased. This will enhance our resource base by providing new carbohydrate for fermentation and health of the environment by improving our standing forests. Each new identified source of carbohydrate that can be converted into fuels and chemicals will help to increase our energy independence. Finally, the resulting MDF from the oxalic acid technology is superior to the existing product in its ability to be significantly more water repellent, which is very important for humid climates. Our results have shown a synergy with increased temperatures and chemical loading during the pretreatment process that directly affect the quality of the MDF, quantity of ethanol extracted prior to fiberizing, and the water
repellency characteristics. Through the optimization of chemical loading and temperature experiments, we have determined that the diethyloxalate, DEO, if used as the primary chemical application for the technology will needed to be produced on site in order to compete with the current price of oxalic acid dihydrate. Finally, we have determined that the oxalic acid technology not only works with red pine, but other species as well. In some cases, other wood species, spruce wood chips for example, have a greater effect on the final product with respect to board strength, ethanol extractive potential, and water repellency.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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