Tag Archives: facultystaff

New Coal Could Be Boost To N.C. Needs – State finds way to locally produce green energy

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From the NC State Technician –  March 26, 2009

According to researchers at N.C. State, wood could be the new coal. Using a process called torrefaction, woodchips are dried out in what equates to an industrial sized toaster oven that changes them both physically and chemically.  While they retain 80 percent of their energy content, they are much lighter and easier to crush – an ideal burnable energy source.
Burning the woodchips is also much greener and more efficient, boasting a zero carbon output.

While torrefaction is nothing new in itself, N.C. State researchers have managed to develop one that is mobile and self powered, in comparison to the bulky, less efficient machines of the past. 

Read the full story at http://www.technicianonline.com/news/new-coal-could-be-boost-to-n-c-needs-1.1631097

Dr. Orlando Rojas Named 2009 Finland Distinguished Professor

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NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact:  Tilla Fearn, NC State College of Natural Resources, (919) 513-4644

March 20, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Orlando Rojas in Wood & Paper Science has been named a Finland Distinguished Professor by the Finland Distinguished Professor Program (FiDiPro). FiDiPro enables distinguished researchers, both foreign and expatriates, to work and team up with the "best of the best" in Finnish academic research. The goal of the FiDiPro is to raise the level of scientific knowledge in Finland by supporting research institutes and creating international cooperation. Dr Rojas' Finnish host will be Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Forest Products Technology, Professor Janne Laine.

Dr. Rojas specializes in the study of lignocellulosic materials.

FiDiPro project: Value-added materials and functional structures from lignocellulosics
The general goal of this project is to use abundant renewable forest resources and by-products (cellulose and lignin) as precursors for the production of high performance materials and structures (and their functionalized versions) and also as substrates for a biologically inspired synthesis of catalysts for clean energy. The future economic viability of the forest cluster companies could be greatly enhanced by extending plant-based materials for new, high-value, high-volume products that can be effectively recycled.