UMaine receives $4.8M award to ramp up research into bioproducts
With a new federal funding award of $4.8 million, the University of Maine said last week it will step up research into the use of forest waste materials for renewable fuel, heating oil and biologically derived products.
The funding from the Defense Logistics Agency will allow the UMaine Forest Bioproducts Research Institute to upgrade its facilities, and to support ongoing investigations, according to a news release.
The center plans to begin adding and expanding its infrastructure by the middle of this year.
“It’s a significant upgrade in our pilot-scale infrastructure,” said Hemant Pendse, the institute’s director. “This significant investment will allow us to rapidly advance development in several major areas of ongoing research.”
New equipment at the institute’s on-campus Process Development Center will allow the production of nano-fibrillated cellulose starting with wood chips or sawdust particles. Currently, PDC produces nanocellulose from pulp, and the ability to make the substance from coarse wood particles will help divert lumber byproducts from the waste stream.
“Nanocellulose, liberated from wood, has unique properties that make it ideal for use in sustainable packaging and many other applications when looking for alternatives to fossil-fuel based chemicals,” said Colleen Walker, PDC director.
“This new equipment highlights UMaine’s position as being the heart of Nanocellulose Valley — the unrivaled center for nanocellulose innovation.”
Other upgrades will allow researchers to simulate the commercial-scale production of biobased goods, particularly biomass-derived jet fuel and diesel.
Amy Luce, manager of the institute’s Technology Resource Center in Old Town, said, “The updates will allow FBRI to streamline and integrate the processing between multiple pilot plants at the off-campus Technology Research Center and the Process Development Center on campus, collect data on the manufacturing technologies for different co-products, and study and tackle material handling issues. Students will be able to use these top-quality tools to advance their education in engineering, materials processing, process control and other related fields.”
The institute is aiming to demonstrate that forest-based products can be manufactured at a commercial scale to replace fossil-fuel products, and to inspire the creation of a biorefinery in Maine. Other goals include supporting new revenue streams for pulp, paper and building product manufacturers.
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