Liza Abid Awarded the CRMR Winter 2026 Support Scholarship, Valued at $5,000!

Congratulations to Liza Abid, recipient of the Winter 2026 Support Scholarship from the Renewable Materials Research Center (CRMR), valued at $5,000!

A doctoral student in Wood Engineering and Bio-based Materials, Liza conducts her research under the supervision of Véronic Landry and the co-supervision of Tatjana Stevanovic. Her PhD project, entitled «  Valorization of Bark Lignin for the Design of Interior Wood Coatings Resistant to Mechanical Stress », aligns closely with the CRMR’s research priorities and contributes to advancing knowledge in the field of renewable materials—a strategic sector for innovation and sustainable development.

This scholarship aims to provide financial support to a master’s or doctoral student in the final stages of their program who lacks funding, while also recognizing academic excellence, scientific engagement, and active contributions to the academic and social life of our university community.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Liza Abid for this well-deserved recognition!

Project Summary

Background and Problem Statement

As the impacts of climate change intensify, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become a global priority. In 2020, the oil and gas sector accounted for approximately 24% of global emissions, while the building sector contributed 12%. According to the 2022 Emission Gap Report, a 45% reduction in global emissions is required to limit global warming to below 2 °C. In this context, wood represents a sustainable alternative due to its temporary carbon storage capacity. However, its hygroscopicity and susceptibility to mechanical, chemical, and biological degradation limit its use in many applications. Traditional coatings improve wood durability but rely on fossil-based materials and generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The use of bark, an abundant and underutilized by-product of the forestry industry, offers a promising solution. In Quebec, nearly 7 million tonnes of residual bark were produced by sawmills and pulp mills in 2021. Bark is rich in biopolymers, including lignin, which can be valorized in high-value bio-based materials. This project proposes the development of interior wood coatings using lignin extracted from bark as a bio-based feedstock. The lignin will be chemically modified by grafting multifunctional acrylates and malonates. Michael addition reactions, in line with green chemistry principles, will enable the creation of solid, durable films, enhancing wood’s mechanical properties while reducing environmental impact. The ultimate goal is to develop high-performance, sustainable, and eco-friendly coatings that valorize an underexploited forest by-product.

Objectives

The general objective is to design bio-based lignin coatings for interior wood that protect against mechanical damage while minimizing environmental impact. The project is organized into three complementary axes:

1. Bark characterization and lignin extraction: Analysis of sugar maple and red oak bark, quantification of all components, extraction of lignin using two optimized methods, and characterization to select the most suitable lignin.

2. Chemical modification of lignin: Two grafting methods will be employed to incorporate lignin into coatings, with environmental impact assessed via life cycle analysis (in collaboration with ETS Montréal).

3. Coating formulation and optimization: Incorporation of modified lignin into coatings, characterization of mechanical and chemical properties to evaluate performance and application potential.

Methodology

1. Bark samples from sugar maple and red oak were washed, air-dried, and ground, then analyzed for extractives, Klason and acid-soluble lignin, ash, and sugars. Lignin was isolated using Organosolv and acid dioxane processes, with Organosolv optimized for higher yields. Extracted lignins were characterized by FTIR, ^31P and solid-state ^13C NMR, HPLC, DSC, TGA, and ICP-OES.

2. Lignins were chemically modified by acrylation (grafting acrylates using acryloyl chloride) and acetoacetylation (transesterification with tert-butyl acetoacetate) at different molar ratios. Successful modifications were confirmed via FTIR and quantitative ^31P/^1H NMR, with grafting efficiencies ranging from 60% to 83%. Life cycle analysis assessed the environmental impact of each method.

3. Modified lignins were incorporated into coatings at 5–30% and polymerized via Michael addition. Formulations are being optimized for homogeneous films applicable to interior wood. Coating properties, including hardness, adhesion, and scratch resistance, will be evaluated using microindentation and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA).

Expected Results

Analysis of sugar maple and red oak bark revealed high Klason lignin contents (26.4% and 35.0%, respectively), confirming bark as an abundant source of high-quality lignin. Organosolv-extracted lignins exceeded 90% purity and contained abundant hydroxyl groups for subsequent functionalization. Chemical modification was effective, with grafting rates of 63.2–82.9% for acrylation and 60.6–68.9% for acetoacetylation. Life cycle analysis indicated lower environmental impact for acetoacetylation and for red oak lignin.

This project demonstrates the potential of bark lignins as bio-based feedstocks for sustainable materials. Industrial and environmental benefits include the development of high-performance, bio-based interior wood coatings, valorization of forestry by-products, reduced use of organic solvents, and improved mechanical properties, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional coatings.

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