Wood biobased products

The Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program has recognized benefits of engineered wood and fiber produets. This is expected to drive use of biobased products. Electron-beam radiation could be used to inprove mechanical properties of these systems. 

Dhabhai R., Chamasia S.R and Dalai A.K. Efficient bioethanol production from glucose-xylose mixtures using co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized on Canadian pine wood chips and free Pichia stipitis. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy 6 (5) (2012) 594-600. 

Biobased Materials/Recycling Center, Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061... 

The natural resins present in native guayule have been extensively studied and include mono-, sesqui-, di-, and triterpene groups, as well as other secondary metabolites (108). Unfractionated guayule resin has shown considerable promise in the areas of wood preservation (in marine and terrestrial environments) (129) and insect antifeedents (termite resistance) (130-132). These resins also show promise as a biobased renewable replacement for petroleum-based monomers and oligomers in adhesives and coatings. Additional profitable uses for the resins include a natural, low toxicity replacement for creosote in wood treatment and for prevention of termite attack. Resin/lignin products, such as additives for phenol formaldehyde resins, may also prove possible. 

Containers and packaging represent 32% of solid waste in the USA. Around 65% of this amount is derived from biobased materials such as paper, paperboard and wood, and the rest is composed of glass, metal and plastic. Glass and metal are abimdant. Plastics in contrast are mainly obtained from scarce petroleum resources. Therefore, there is much interest in the production of biopolymers obtained from biobased resources, which are forecasted to reduce petroleum dependence. This article provides an overview of the current development and use of biopolymers in packaging apphcations, and examines their sustainabihty. It presents a cradle to cradle analysis and the current regulation of these materials. 

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