Research Emphasis Areas

Project Leader:
Illman, Barbara L.

Research Emphasis Area:
 Forest Biorefinery

Overview:
Underutilized wood from overstocked forest stands could be made into fuels, chemicals, and polymers through appropriate pretreatment and bioconversion. Our research is working to develop fundamental knowledge to enable novel technologies for the economic bioconversion of wood to such useful products.

Researchers are studying pretreatment, saccharification, and fermentation technologies, which can be integrated into traditional fiber processing to generate a mixture of fuels, chemicals, and biomaterials. In one example of this research, scientists are working to understand, modify, and adapt xylose-fermenting yeasts for the production of fuels and chemicals. Xylose is the major component of hardwood hemicelluloses, and its utilization is essential to the economics of the saccharification/fermentation process for bioconversion of wood waste. If the technology for fermenting xylose and other hemicellulosic sugars is practicable, wood-derived ethanol could provide a significant fraction of our Nation's transportation fuel needs from renewable resources in an environmentally sound manner.

Gasification is also being studied as a method of bioconversion, and is an attractive option because it could potentially be used to convert low-grade biomass into fuels and chemicals on-site, eliminating the expense of handling and transporting the bulky woody materials. However, the economic feasibility of gasification needs to be further studied.

Project Leader:
Illman, Barbara L.

Research Emphasis Area:
 Forest Biorefinery

Overview:
White rot fungi possess the unique ability to efficiently degrade lignin from plant biomass into carbon dioxide in order to gain access to the carbohydrate polymers of plant cell walls for use as carbon and energy sources. Wood-decay fungi are among the most prevalent and diverse degradative organisms in forests, yet their genetic systems for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin degradation have barely been examined.

White rot fungi are of considerable interest for many industrial applications, including biological pulping of paper, fiber bleaching, and remediation of pesticides, certain textile dyes, and hydrocarbons associated with wood preservation. Our researchers are working to identify and characterize these key genetic systems, as the poor understanding of the molecular genetics of these fungi have been a critical barrier to their commercial use.

Project Leader:
Illman, Barbara L.

Research Emphasis Area:
 Advanced Composites
 Woody Biomass Utilization

Overview:
The use of enzymes is important to meet the public's demands for environmentally benign technologies. Enzymes catalyze reactions under conditions that are environmentally less severe than similar chemical processes. Researchers study the enzymatic and microbial modification of wood and fiber surfaces that provide great potential in developing new products. Specific removal or modification of components of wood may be useful in producing new products; such as chemicals or fuels, heavy metal or nutrient adsorbants, or replacements of stringent chemicals in industrial processes.

Researchers focus on discovery and use of microorganisms, enzymes and biomimics to treat virgin fibers, recycled fibers, and wood residues. Enzymes or processes possessing the capacity to release lignin and chromophores from pulps are sought, along with enzymes that might increase the strength of paper made from lower grade residuals and pulp. The pulp and paper industry already uses enzymes for pulp bleaching and removing inks and contaminants from recycled fibers. Further research is being conducted using proteins that may be useful in restoring flexibility or bonding properties to recycled fibers, which could expand the use of recycled fibers and conserve timber while providing the public with material goods. Enzyme pretreatment of biomass will be indispensable for the new forest biorefinery initiatives and hold promise for the value prior to pulping process (VPP). An important consideration in this research, is ensuring that the use of enzymes can fit in with existing industry technologies to increase their acceptance and use.

Project Leader:
Illman, Barbara L.

Research Emphasis Area:
 Forest Biorefinery
 Woody Biomass Utilization

Overview:
This research seeks to optimize lignocellulose-degrading fungi for bioprocessing and bioconversion of wood to fuels and other chemicals by understanding the functional genomics of these organisms. Successful development of these emerging technologies will have a significant impact on forest-based economies and water quality.