Participation of Liza Abid at the International Symposium on Wood Science and Technology!
Liza Abid, a PhD candidate in Wood Engineering and Bio-Based Materials under the supervision of Véronic Landry and Tatjana Stevanovic, had the opportunity to participate in the International Symposium on Wood Science and Technology, which took place from March 17 to 19, 2025, in Sendai, Japan.
The International Symposium on Wood Science and Technology (ISWST) is a leading scientific event that brings together researchers and experts to exchange the latest advances in wood science and technology. The symposium highlights wood as a sustainable biomaterial and explores its applications across various sectors, while addressing environmental challenges and the energy transition. It is also an ideal platform to discuss innovations and upcoming challenges related to the use of wood.
During the event, Liza presented her research titled « Harnessing Bark Lignin for Eco-Friendly Wood Coatings ». This research project aims to develop eco-friendly coatings for wood by valorizing lignin extracted from bark, a often overlooked by-product. The goal is to design durable coatings with low VOC emissions to protect wood from external mechanical damage. After extracting lignin from sugar maple and red oak bark, it is chemically modified and integrated into a polymer system to create a bio-based coating. This project not only valorizes a by-product but also provides a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional coatings.
The financial support from the CRMR student mobility program was crucial, allowing Liza to participate in this enriching experience. Thanks to this funding, she was able to proudly represent her institution and contribute to advancing knowledge in her field.
Congratulations to Liza for this outstanding achievement! We wish her continued success in her academic and professional career.
Project summary: Harnessing Bark Lignin for Eco-Friendly Wood Coatings
Wood materials face significant challenges, particularly concerning their durability and mechanical strength. Additionally, conventional coatings often result in the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while bark, often regarded as a waste by-product, is commonly burned for energy rather than being utilized for value-added products. These environmental and economic challenges call for innovative solutions. Our research aims to address these issues by developing sustainable, low-VOC coatings designed to protect interior wood surfaces from external mechanical damage. These coatings are intended to use minimal energy, cure quickly, and produce no toxic by-products. By utilizing lignins extracted from bark, we leverage their rigidity, mechanical strength, and well-established hydrophobic properties, making them an ideal foundation for formulating bio-based coatings.
To achieve this, we first analyzed the bark of sugar maple and red oak to determine their constituent components, with a specific focus on lignin content. Subsequently, lignin was extracted from the bark using organosolv and dioxane processes to identify the most efficient method for obtaining high-yield, high-purity lignin with maximum hydroxyl (OH) content.
After characterizing the lignins and selecting the most effective extraction method (Organosolv with up to 94% purity), we proceeded to chemically functionalize the lignins. The hydroxyl groups (OH) were modified through two approaches: (1) grafting acrylates and (2) grafting acetoacetates onto the lignins. Both methods were optimized to achieve high grafting efficiencies, with more than 60% of the hydroxyl groups successfully modified. The modified lignins were then incorporated into a polymer system of acrylates and malonates to create a coating based on the Michael addition reaction. The mechanical properties of these coatings are currently under evaluation.