(104d) Green Research and the Circle of Life

As a young researcher in the fall of 1989, I began my research career in pulp and paper and during the first two decades I was always impressed how new investments in pulp mills in the far east and South America could improve rural development while addressing environmental expectations. Fast forwarding to the current situation, the development of forest biorefinery technologies is providing new opportunities for developed and developing economies to launch new value-added wood-based products. Our studies have been focused on developing the fundamental science and engineering to fractionate and valorize all components of biomass. From understanding the natural diversity content and structure of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose in woody resources to how genetic alterations in lignin can alter cell wall architecture and recalcitrance. Our studies have examined the utilization of nanocellulose in advanced composites and how orientating nanocellulosics in composites provides physical strength properties. Employing lignin first pretreatments the structure of lignin can be engineered to have tailored structural components and provided a plant carbohydrate stream for biofuels and materials. Nonetheless, the isolated lignin fractions continue to exhibit broad polydispersity values which hinder their application for material applications and these challenges can be addressed by fractionation. Once the polydispersity issues are addressed, we have utilized these lignin fractions for improved material applications in polyurethanes and related materials. This seminar will review these developments and look forward to the next decade of forest based biofinery opportunities.