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2023, Umaine News Press Releases, Division Of Marketing And Communications

General University of Maine Publications

This is a catalog of press releases put out by the University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communications between January 3, 2023 and November 1, 2023.

Impacts Of Climate Warming On Nutritional Quality And Soil Bacterial Communities Of Wild Blueberries, Oluwafemi A. Alaba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Under anthropogenic global climate change associated with greenhouse gas emissions, the mean surface temperature of the earth has increased by approximately 1 oC since the industrial age and is projected to rise by 2.6 to 4.6 oC by 2100. Wild blueberry fields in Maine are experiencing unprecedented warming, which may affect the fruit flavor and nutritional quality, soil health and microbial community, and consequently impact yield, human nutrition, and the economic well-being of wild blueberry producers. It is therefore important to assess the impact of climate warming on fruit crop nutritional quality and soil microbial community, and test potential strategies …

Influence Of Biochar As A Soil Amendment On Soil Water Content And Wild Blueberry Physiology, Abigayl Novak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Maine wild (or lowbush) blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) continue to face challenges imposed by climate change. Reduced frequency of precipitation and increased drought conditions have negatively impacted this crop since it resides in sandy soils with limited retention of water and nutrients. The wild blueberry plants growing in water- and nutrient-poor sandy soils are likely to have poor resilience to drought, resulting in a decline in berry yield during drought years. Thus, there is an urgent need to find a drought management solution for wild blueberries. Compared with other drought management practices, such as irrigation systems, mulching, and adopting drought-resistant …

Solid Acid Catalyzed Dehydration Reactions Of Biomass-Derived Alcohols, Mackenzie Todd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Concerns around climate change and the use of fossil resources contributing to increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere has motivated transitions to use biomass resources for the production of specialty chemicals and fuels, in hopes of creating a more cyclical use of carbon. The work presented here focuses on two different aspects of catalytic upgrading of biomass-derived platform molecules using heterogeneous acid catalysts. First, we use an interdisciplinary and iterative approach to process development for producing a diesel fuel additive from pyrolysis oils of woody biomass. We use fuel property calculations to define measures of success in chemical upgrading …

Center For Research On Sustainable Forests 2022 Annual Report, Center For Research On Sustainable Forests

General University of Maine Publications

The Center for Research on Sustainable Forests (CRSF) entered its 16th year of existence this year and has been under my leadership since 2016. We are very excited to get back to almost business as usual and resume in-person events, particularly our very successful and popular Forest Climate Change Initiative’s Science & Practice field tour series done in partnership with the Forest Stewardship Guild. These partnerships and events have greatly expanded the recognition and visibility of CRSF endeavors. We are excited to share our accomplishments from the past year in this report and to begin planning for the coming year.

2022 Research Report: R1 Global Impact - Local Relevance, Office Of The Vice President For Research, Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Kody Varahramyan

General University of Maine Publications

We are delighted to present the 2022 Research Report for the University of Maine. This year marked the realization of a historic accomplishment by Maine’s land, sea, and space grant university. In January 2022, UMaine ascended to the highest tier of national research universities by earning a Carnegie R1 classification and joining the ranks of the nation’s top doctoral universities with very high research activity.

The R1 designation is a well-recognized standard of excellence for top-tier research universities. Earning it is a significant endorsement of UMaine’s advancement as a premier modern 21st-century research university, with nationally and internationally recognized programs …

Impact Umaine Research, December 2022, Office Of The Vice President For Research, Dean Of The Graduate School

General University of Maine Publications

Celebrating the Climate Change Institute's 50th anniversary, first 100% bio-based 3D-printed home, and more. Featured stories include: UMaine Climate Change Institute celebrates 50th anniversary; New UMaine PFAS+ Initiative strives to address forever chemicals crisis; First 100% bio-based 3D-printed home unveiled at the University of Maine; Verma leads UMaine to create new offshore wind opportunities for students; New study outlines ways to recruit more women for bioenergy and forestry.

Immiscible Liquid-Infused Filters For Water And Aerosol Filtration, Justin Hardcastle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the purification of water and air, membrane fouling is an ongoing issue that leads to the reduction of filter efficiency over time. An increase in the frequency of current chemical and mechanical cleaning methods increases system downtime, increases overall costs, and leads to the reduction of the lifetime of the membrane. Commonly used filtration materials such as polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are porous throughout and have a textured surface that facilitates the adhesion of bacteria and other foulants. To prevent this adhesion, bioinspired liquid-coated filters are proposed as a new approach to creating filters that resist fouling. …

Solvent Effects In Phenol Hydrogenation On A Supported Ruthenium Catalyst, Daniel Mckeon

Honors College

Growing concerns around climate have piqued interest in using biobased alternatives in place of fuels and chemicals traditionally made from petroleum. Lignocellulosic biomass has been noted for its potential as a biobased chemical precursor in the context of a biorefinery. It can be pyrolyzed to yield an oil, but catalytic upgrading is required to lower oxygen content to suitable levels. Ruthenium supported on titania has been identified as a catalyst suitable for hydrodeoxygenation of oxygenated aromatic pyrolysis products in the liquid phase. In liquid phase reactions, intermolecular attractions between the solvent and the reactants can significantly change chemical activities and …

Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Pfas Treatment Of Maine Drinking Water, Benjamin L. Mcalexander, Onur G. Apul, Mitchell R. Olson, Jean Macrae

Maine Policy Review

State law requires the adoption of a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PFAS contamination in drinking water by June 1, 2024. While discussion of mitigation options has included the degree of risk reduction and the cost of treatment, indirect environmental effects are missing from the conversation. Until other technologies are developed, water treatment in Maine will likely rely on the established, energy-intensive method of PFAS adsorption (binding) to granular activated carbon. We conducted an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions associated with water treatment using this treatment media to fill gaps in the discussion. We found that greenhouse gas emissions for …

Soil Organic Carbon In Maine, Its Responses To Biochar Addition, And Climate Change, Xue Bai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil organic carbon (SOC), as one of the largest C pools in terrestrial ecosystems, plays a key role in governing soil ecosystem processes and climate regulation. Climate change concerns have resulted in a rapidly growing interest in understanding the potential for natural climate solutions (NCS) that include enhancing SOC sequestration and reduce net atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This research focused on addressing information needs about SOC in Maine, specifically in evaluating available soil databases to accurately quantify SOC density and concentration, and study the response of selected representative Maine soils to biochar amendments under a changing climate.

Maine SOC …

Economics And Operational Decision Constraints Of Small-Diameter Tree Harvesting, Libin Thaikkattil Louis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sustainably managed forests are crucial in balancing trade-off between various ecosystem functions and optimum product utilization. Improving the utilization of these renewable resources through diversified forest wood products faces various socio-economic, ecological, and cultural challenges. A major challenge faced by forest managers in the Northeastern United States is overstocked stands dominated by small-diameter trees (SDT). Major woody portion of the harvested residues is constituted by SDT and are typically of low value. Data from the national inventory indicates a high number of SDT in Northeastern forests such that the average size of all trees in the region is less than …

Dr. Adam Daigneault Testimony To The House Committee On Small Business Subcommittee On Underserved, Agricultural, And Rural Development Hearing On “Sustainable Forestry’S Role In Climate Solutions”, Adam Daigneault

General University of Maine Publications

Adam Daigneault, University of Maine E.L. Giddings Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Economics, testified Sept. 29 before a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Development, chaired by Maine Rep. Jared Golden.

A focus of the hearing was the role of sustainable forestry and how small businesses across this sector are helping to address climate change. Daigneault, whose research focuses on modelling economic impacts of environmental policy on the forestry and agricultural sectors, spoke about how we can manage U.S. forests for carbon, timber and other ecosystem services, and how we can …

2021 Student Symposium Research And Creative Activity Book Of Abstracts, Melinda (Mindy) Pelletier, Vice President For Research And Dean Of The Graduate School

General University of Maine Publications

The UMaine Student Symposium (UMSS) is an annual event that celebrates undergraduate and graduate student research and creative work. Students from a variety of disciplines present their achievements with video presentations. It’s the ideal occasion for the community to see how UMaine students’ work impacts locally – and beyond.

The 2021 Student Symposium Research and Creative Activity Book of Abstracts includes a complete list of student presenters as well as abstracts related to their works.

Fy2020 Maine Economic Improvement Fund Annual Report, James O. Donnelly

General University of Maine Publications

Maine statute requires the University of Maine System to provide an annual report to the Governor and Legislature each year. In addition to listing the annual financial data, we also include an assessment of the achievement of the annual goals and objectives, and a summary of the research and development projects that have been funded. The annual report is included in the meeting materials for review and approval.

Center For Research On Sustainable Forests 2020 Annual Report, University Of Maine Center For Research On Sustainable Forests, Aaron Weiskittel

General University of Maine Publications

FY20 saw exciting changes in CRSF with several new initiatives launched, while progress continues on many other ongoing efforts. In particular, FY20 saw the start of two National Science Foundation funded and CRSF-led research projects. The first is the INSPIRES project, a multi-year research collaboration between Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont focused on harnessing Big Data to better understand and forecast the region’s forest given current as well as future uncertainties.

The other effort was a successful Phase 3 reboot of the National Science Foundation Industry-University Collaborative Research Center, Center for Advanced Forestry System (CAFS), for which I have served …

2021, Umaine News Press Releases, Division Of Marketing And Communications

General University of Maine Publications

This is a catalog of press releases put out by the University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communications during the year of 2021.

Welcome To Nanocellulose Valley, Office Of Innovation And Economic Development

General University of Maine Publications

For 200 years, Maine's economy has been deeply rooted in the forest products industry. Home to sustainably managed forests, skilled workers, and research expertise at the University of Maine, the state is a natural hub for forest-based innovations and the development of cutting-edge new products.

Today, nanocellulose, nature's super polymer, is helping to build the forest products of the future. This renewable natural material offers virtually limitless potential in a wide range of applications from food packaging to biomedical devices.

Just as Silicon Valley grew up around Stanford University to become the heart of the tech industry, UMaine is driving …

Reaction Kinetics Analysis Of C-O Hydrogenoloysis In Phenol And 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural, Daniela Ignacia Stuck Valenzuela

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Converting biomass to alternative fuels has attracted significant interest in recent decades. Lignin, a principal component of biomass, is composed of phenolic monomers, which can be depolymerized using fast pyrolysis to yield a “bio-oil”. However, bio-oil is not immediately suitable as a biofuel because of its high oxygen content, and it is necessary to efficiently remove these oxygen atoms by hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). This project is focused on the elucidation of the reaction kinetics associated with carbon-oxygen hydrogenolysis in phenolic molecules, which is a significant reaction for the production of hydrocarbon fuels from biomass pyrolysis oils. The studied molecules are 5-hydroxymethylfurfural …

The Production, Characterization, And Upgrading Of Biochars Into Activated Carbon, Kasey Johnston

Honors College

There is a growing demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum based fuels to be used in the transportation sector. To this end, thermochemical pathways have been proposed for the conversion of renewable feedstock such as wood and corn stover to transportation fuels. Although it is recognized that renewable feedstock sources are environmentally superior to the current petroleum based fuels, the commercial production of renewable fuels via thermochemical pathways must also be economically advantageous. Thermochemical conversion of a renewable feedstock results in the production of a significant amount of biochar that has a low economic value. To improve the overall economics …

Strategies For Reducing Moisture Content In Forest Residues At The Harvest Site, Anil Raj Kizha, H-S Han, J. Paulson, A. Koirala

Forest Resources Faculty Scholarship

The moisture content (MC) of biomass derived from forest residues can pose a challenge to biomass utilization. It plays a significant role in determining the cost of transportation and subsequent market price. Additionally, emerging biomass conversion technologies, such as gasification, torrefaction, and briquetting, have very narrow specifications for the MC (e.g., <15%) in their feedstocks. The goal of this study was to develop strategies for reducing moisture content by evaluating different arrangement patterns of forest residues and its effect on MC reduction at the harvest site. The study compared four different arrangement patterns including criss-cross, teepees, traditional piling (processor piled), and scattered residues in three different timber harvest units in northern California. Two of the arrangement patterns (criss-cross and processor piled) were also covered with a plastic cover. Samples were collected from each treatment using a transect method and were recorded for 12 months. There was an overall drop of MC from 52% (freshly cut) to 12% between all arrangements over the study period. The cost of construction per pile, averaged $37, $41, and $48 for teepees, criss-cross, and processor piles, respectively. Even though, there was no significant difference in MC reduction between piles (except scattered), each pile arrangement of forest residues directly affected biomass feedstock operations, logistics, and costs.

Maine Bioenergy At The Crossroads - Partnership For Policy Integrity - April 18 2017, Mary S. Booth

Documents from Environmental Organizations

No abstract provided.

Prentiss And Carlisle - Landowner Update - Q1 - 2017, Prentiss And Carlisle

Documents from Environmental Organizations

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Recent Mill Closures And Potential Biofuels Development On Maine’S Forest Products Industry, Mindy S. Crandall, James L. Anderson, Jonathan Rubin

Maine Policy Review

The economic contributions of a sector (i.e., employment, output, value added) are a measure of how money from that sector moves about a regional economy. Using 2014 estimates of economic contributions from the forest product industry in Maine, we estimate the 2016 contribution by considering the impacts from several recent mill closures (five pulp/paper, two bioelectric). The loss of these mills, particularly paper mills, reduces the economic contributions of the forest products industry relative to the state economy and distorts markets for low-value wood. We also explore a prospective opportunity to revive low-value wood markets by modeling the economic impacts …