Plant biomass represents a vast and renewable source of energy. However harnessing this energy requires breaking down tough lignin and cellulose cell walls. In nature certain microbes can deconstruct biomass into simple sugars by secreting combinations of enzymes. Two organisms that utilize cellulose are Clostridium thermocellum and Trichoderma reesei. Both are well-known and relied upon in the biomass field. Yet research suggests another microorganism of the Streptomyces bacteria group may hold previously unrecognized potential.

Pratt & Whitney has developed a wood-foam composite framing stud that provides improved insulation over existing wood products. The end product is a 2”X6” stud that has wood sections removed and replaced with insulating foam resulting in a framing member that has the strength of a 2”X4” stud with an R-value close to that of fiberglass. This stud offers additional function in structural support for additional floors and roof nailing surfaces for plywood and sheetrock and provides wall stiffness for wind exposure. Technology Applications: LEED Construction

Background: Direct-methanol fuel cells or (DMFCs) are a subcategory of proton-exchange fuel cells in which methanol is used as the fuel. DMFCs are useful for many portable power applications and micro power applications such as laptop computers cell phones etc. As a result DMFCs have been an area of intense research directed toward alternative sources of energy. As a fuel methanol (MeOH) is advantageous in terms of also being readily available from renewable sources of biomass such as wood.

Black walnut trees are one of the most valuable species in the United States. The hardwood is used in making quality lumber and veneer and has an added benefit of producing walnuts used in food production. Hardwood trees in general have many other benefits. They provide environmental stabilization as windbreakers protection from watershed and reclamation. The raw materials from the wood are used in cosmetic pharmaceutical and botanical industries.

Background: Improved aspen clones that produce increased biomass have been developed at Iowa State University. Technology Description: Fast growing trees such as aspen cottonwood and eucalyptus can be grown as so-called short rotation crops and have potential to be used as a source of woody biomass for the production of biofuels such as wood pellets and cellulosic ethanol. In the prime cottonwood growing region which includes eastern Louisiana eastern Arkansas western Mississippi and western Kentucky cottonwoods can grow 12-15 feet per year allowing them to be harvested biennially.

Combined melamine and thermal treatment of wood timber and wood composites to achieve increased durability dimensional stability and surface quality similar to tropical hard wood.

Clickywood is wooden ergonomic massage device especially designed to use while working with computer mouse and keyboard. The device stimulates blood circulation with no need to interrupt work. This is especially important when you have a short deadline to finish your work. In such cirumstances we often forget about our healthy way of life. One of the most common ways of treatment is surgical operation with one month postoperation care.

Background: Lignocellulose is a component of wood. It is used in a variety of products including medium-density fiberboard (MDF) an engineered wood product formed by gluing lignocellulose fibers under heat pressure and a small amount of resin. Cellulose hemicellulose and lignin are the major polymers that make up lignocellulose and contribute to the material characteristics of MDF. The MDF manufacturing process begins with a pulping procedure that creates a suspension of fibers from wood.

A technology involving generation of light by a cuboid metallic box lit with a drum containing wood charcoal generated from burning wood in the cuboid metallic box. It burns out in 12 hours.