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Mechanical drying of wood chips in a squeezer is an innovative technique to increase the energetic value of the chips in an energy-efficient and cost-effective manner. As a result, large quantities of press water with a high content of minerals and dissolved organic substances are produced, making the disposal via sewage plants difficult, but at the same time extremely interesting from an industrial and pharmacological point of view. The aim of this project, funded by the „Kuratorium für forstliche Forschung“, is the characterization and utilization of these substances for chemical and biotechnological purposes by means of biorefinery. Various physical and chemical separation methods, such as preparative chromatography or foam analysis, are applied to isolate the organic substances in the press water. These isolated components are then identified using analytical methods, such as by mass spectrometry. Lignanes and terpenes, for example, are of particular interest for industrial and pharmacological purposes. In a second line of research, it will be tested whether the press water can replace components of established media used for the liquid cultivation of cellulolytic fungi, in particular the so-called inducers, which represent one of the biggest cost factors in the enzyme production. Further examinations include the analysis of the transcriptome by means of next-generation sequencing as well as tests on the inhibitory effect of compounds from the press water against these and other fungi. |
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| Duration | September 2017 – December 2021 |
| People | Reppke, Manfred; Pilgård, Annica; Benz, J. Philipp; Windeisen-Holzhauser, Elisabeth; Richter, Klaus |
| Funding | Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten (StMELF) |
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Analysis of interactions between the chemistry of wood and adhesives and their effect on cohesive and adhesive bondings
The main objective of this research project is to provide missing basic knowledge of the interactions between wood components and adhesives for the gluing of important domestic wood species.
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A combination of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and rheology is used for the analysis of cohesive bondings. In this way, information about the chemical reaction and the curing behavior of wood-adhesive combinations shall be gained. In addition, thermal analyses (DSC) as well as investigations by pyrolysis GC/MS will be performed. For evaluating adhesive bonding, the surface polarity of the wood and the adhesion energy (contact angle measurement, AFM) will be determined, and strength tests as well as microscopic examinations will be performed. Adhesion is a key technology in many areas, including the sector "wood in the construction industry" or "industrial wood construction". Improved knowledge of the permanent bonding of different wood species can result in higher process and product safety and thus promote the use of the raw material wood. In addition, bonding of different wood species as an alternative to spruce will allow for the development of new products with improved performance or durability, therefore increasing competition with other materials, and thus resulting in an increase in the competitiveness of wood. |
| Duration | February 2017 – July 2020 |
| People | Özparpucu, Merve; Windeisen, Elisabeth; Richter, Klaus |
| Funding | Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy |
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Implementation of product innovations considering the conservation and maintenance of tropical and durable domestic wood species
Under weathering conditions some tropical hardwoods release hardly soluble, colored components which are partly inerasable from, for example, patios or facings. Thereby, the wood itself loses its typical and attractive optic. Identification of the volatile and soluble components of the wood samples as well as analysis of the weathered surface led to the devolpment of sustainable conservation and maintenance products consisting of natural oils and resins. Techniques and methods for 12 tropical, 3 durable domestic and 2 Thermowood species were developed
| Duration | September 2010 – February 2013 |
| People | Wanschura, Regina; Woppmann, Claudia; Windeisen, Elisabeth |
| Partners | Naturhaus Naturfarben GmbH, Cluster Chemie Bayern |
| Funding | Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) |
