A5005417806- Wood Treatment and Properties
- Advanced Cellulose Research Studies
- Lignin and Wood Chemistry
- Forest ecology and management
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Wood and Agarwood Research
- Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analyses
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Bamboo properties and applications
- Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Botanical Research and Applications
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management
- Plant Surface Properties and Treatments
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessments
University of Canterbury
2016-2025
University of Glasgow
2006-2014
University of Auckland
2010-2013
Cancer Research Institute
1962
The structure of cellulose microfibrils in wood is not known detail, despite the abundance woody biomass and its importance for biology, energy, engineering. spruce was investigated using a range spectroscopic methods coupled to small-angle neutron wide-angle X-ray scattering. scattering data were consistent with 24-chain favored “rectangular” model both hydrophobic hydrophilic surfaces exposed. Disorder chain packing hydrogen bonding shown increase outwards from microfibril center. extent...
In the primary walls of growing plant cells, glucose polymer cellulose is assembled into long microfibrils a few nanometers in diameter. The rigidity and orientation these control cell expansion; therefore, synthesis key factor growth morphogenesis plants. Celery (Apium graveolens) collenchyma useful model system for study wall microfibril structure because its are oriented with unusual uniformity, facilitating spectroscopic diffraction experiments. Using combination x-ray neutron scattering...
Cellulose is the most familiar and abundant strong biopolymer, but reasons for its outstanding mechanical performance are not well understood. Each glucose unit in a cellulose chain joined to next by covalent C-O-C linkage flanked two hydrogen bonds. This geometry suggests some form of cooperativity between bonding. Using infrared spectroscopy X-ray diffraction, we show that tension straightens out zigzag conformation chain, with each pivoting around fulcrum at either end. Straightening...
Abstract Wood fibers vary in their properties across species, trees of the same and within single trees. This work takes advantage wood reinforcing poly(lactic acid) composites that originate from different tissue types species Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ). Fibers were prepared with high temperature thermo‐mechanical processing (TMP) juvenile, mature, compression tissues spruce. Composites made by solution casting subsequent hot‐pressing. Thermal as well mechanical determined using...
Cellulose from grasses and cereals makes up much of the potential raw material for biofuel production. It is not clear if cellulose microfibrils differ in structure those other plants. The structures highly oriented cell walls internodes bamboo Pseudosasa amabilis are reported. Strong orientation facilitated use a range scattering techniques. Small-angle neutron provided evidence extensive aggregation by hydrogen bonding through hydrophilic edges sheets chains. had mean centre-to-centre...
Polysaccharides were located in the walls of normal and compression wood tracheids Pinus radiata (radiata pine), Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) abies (Norway by transmission electron microscopy using immunogold labelling with monoclonal antibodies to (1→4)-β-galactan (LM5), (1→3)-β-glucan, arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) (MAC207) heteroxylans (LM10 LM11). In fully differentiated tracheids, was found S2(L) layer and, a smaller extent, at interface between compound middle lamella S1 layer....
Abstract Conifer wood is an exceptionally stiff and strong material when its cellulose microfibrils are well aligned. However, it not understood how the polymer components cellulose, hemicelluloses lignin co-operate to resist tensile stress in wood. From X-ray scattering, neutron scattering spectroscopic data, collected under tension processed by novel methods, ordered, disordered hemicellulose-coated comprising each microfibril were shown stretch together demonstrated concerted, viscous...
Wood is an important renewable resource for a future sustainable bioeconomy. Ion-mediated response in wood considered major factor sap-flow regulation. This study examined the influence of sap replacement with KCl solution and deionised water on drying collapse, permeability, streaming potential never-dried wood. Volumetric tangential collapse KCl-treated Eucalyptus nitens logs decreased significantly by 42%–62% 51%, respectively. Improvement shrinkage properties was concentration-dependent,...
Abstract β-1-4-Galactan has been detected in Sitka spruce [ Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière] by an immunofluorescence procedure. The anti-β-1-4-galactan monoclonal antibody LM5 was found to bind compression wood (CW) tissue as identified cell morphology features. In cross-sections, year rings with very fine bands of galactan-containing were found. Cells these expressed no morphological CW This finding interpreted imply that β-1-4-galactan synthesis is one the first physiological reactions...
Many strong biological materials exist in the form of fibres that are partially crystalline but contain a substantial proportion disordered domains, which contribute to mechanical performance result broadening reflections diffraction patterns such and make structure determination difficult. Where multiple forms disorder simultaneously present, many accepted ways modelling influence on fibre pattern inapplicable. Lateral cellulose fibrils flax was characterized by multi-step approach. First,...
Abstract The spatial arrangement of polymers in Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) was investigated by NMR proton spin-diffusion studies, supplemented deuterium-exchange experiments monitored FTIR spectroscopy. spectra earlywood sections after vapour-phase exchange with deuterium oxide showed that 43% the hydroxyl groups were accessible to deuteration. This value is lower than predicted absence aggregation cellulose microfibrils into larger units, but greater level deuteration if 3.5-nm...