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"Growing up in Northern Maine, the fall was my favorite time of year because of the color of the leaves and the feel of the crisp cool air after a hot summer. Not only do I enjoy the beauty of the forest, but I understand the importance of sustaining the wood industry within the state. Many Maine families depend on it for their livelihood and have for generations. It is my hope that research focused on forest products will help future generations remain in the state of Maine." |
My Research
Hemicelluloses are the second most abundant group of polymers on Earth, after cellulose. The three major components of wood include cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. While cellulose is a well marketed natural resource used in products such as paper and rayon, the same is not true for hemicelluloses although they comprise 25-35% of wood. Recently, research has focused on the potential for marketing products derived from hemicelluloses which would diversify profits for the wood industry. The chemical conversion of hemicelluloses into value-added chemicals is a multi-step process. First, the hemicelluloses have to be extracted from the wood, preferably prior to pulping. After the hemicelluloses have been removed, they must be hydrolyzed into monomeric carbohydrate components, before being converted to value-added products, the final step. My research focuses on hydrolyzing birch xylan with a cocktail of enzymes, including xylanase and α-glucuronidase.
In Other Words
Hemicellulose is a major component of wood that is underutilized in the pulping industry. It is thought that hemicellulose can be used to make ethanol which would decrease our dependence on foreign oil. However, before hemicellulose can be converted to ethanol, it first must be cut into smaller fragments. In other words, hemicellulose can be thought of as a chain with approximately 200 links. My job is to break every link and so that each link can be converted into ethanol.
Contact Information
Aubert Hall, Room 244
University of Maine
Orono , ME 04473
Email: lerae_graham@umit.maine.edu
