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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Hydrogenation of Pyrolysis Oil from Loblolly Pine Residue

Loblolly pine residue prepared with and without zeolite ZSM-5 was pyrolyzed at 60°C and the pyrolysis oil was hydrogenated using formic acid as a hydrogen source, in the presence of a Ru/activated carbon catalyst. As indicated by the pyrolysis yield, addition of the zeolite ZSM-5 increased the yield of light oil but decreased the yield of heavy oil. The pyrolysis oils were analyzed by 13 C, 31 P, 19 F, and heteronuclear single quantum coherence or heteronuclear single quantum correlation nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC-NMR), demonstrating that the zeolite ZSM-5 can efficiently induce decarboxylation reactions and decrease the content of aliphatic hydroxyl groups in the heavy oil by 57%. After hydrogenation of the pyrolysis oil, the aromatic carbon content decreased by 78%, with a significant increase in the aliphatic carbon content.

hydrogenation↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effect of Temperature on the Pilot-Scale Catalytic Pyrolysis of Loblolly Pine

A pilot-scale biomass catalytic pyrolysis unit with a nominal throughput of one tonne of biomass per day (1TPD) has been in operation since 2013 to investigate the process parameters that have the largest influence on biocrude yield, oxygen content, and chemical composition. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the effect of pyrolysis temperature, ranging from 433 to 581 °C, on biocrude yield and quality. A locally sourced loblolly pine feedstock and a commercially available, spray dried, nonzeolitic γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst were used in individual experiments conducted at each pyrolysis temperature to achieve a minimum of 4 h of steady-state continuous operation. Typically, 600–800 kg of biomass was fed over a 12-h period, with one experiment extended to almost 29 h (1144-kg biomass fed) and one experiment interrupted by a process upset after just 7 h (411-kg biomass fed). Comprehensive analysis of collected gas, liquid, and solid products were used to calculate carbon balances (77% to 107%) for each experiment. The biocrude yield ranged from 12 to 18 wt % C and, in general, decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The average steady-state biocrude yield as a function of temperature translated to a biocrude production rate between 40 and 50 gallons per dry ton. The biocrude oxygen content varied between 21 and 31 wt %, on a dry basis, and as expected, decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The identified components in the semivolatile biocrude products are mostly methoxyphenols and other multiphenolic compounds. The multiphenolic compounds are demethoxylated at pyrolysis temperatures above 500 °C, producing biocrudes with higher concentrations of monophenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The concentration of anhydrosugars, like levoglucosan in the biocrudes, decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature from ∼15 to ∼1 vol %.

biofuels↗
DOE OSTI2022

ACORN Review: NPK fertilizer use in loblolly pine plantations: Who are we really feeding?

Optimizing loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) productivity using fertilizers and various site management practices has been a goal of foresters for decades. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are the three most operationally applied fertilizers to loblolly pine silviculture and are of primary importance to their total productivity. Fertilizer recommendations for N, P, and K in loblolly pine are primarily made on abiotic factors such as site and soil characteristics, while the biological factors controlling nutrient uptake are typically overlooked in the production and optimization of these stands. Arguably the most important of these biological factors are the diverse ectomycorrhizal fungal (ECM) communities that colonize the fine roots of almost all loblolly pine trees. The mantle formed by ECM fungi on short-root tips presents a barrier for direct apoplastic uptake of N, P, and K from soil solution by pine roots. In well-colonized roots, the tree is dependent on symplastic fungal transport of N, P, and K foraged from the soil by the extraradical hyphal network. This raises the question: Who are we really feeding if the ECM fungi are the ones assimilating most of the tree's total nutritional requirements? Considering multiple species of ECM fungi can inhabit a single root system, many questions remain regarding the drivers of colonization, why some species are more efficient at taking up and exchanging nutrients with their hosts than others, and why certain fertilizers directly affect the morphology of ECM growth. The purposes of this review here are (1) to explore how the most commonly commercially applied macronutrients, N, P, and K, affect the relationship between loblolly pine and ECM communities, and (2) to propose future directions to investigate, preserve, and manipulate these interactions in pine plantations to optimize productivity.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

NLR diversity and candidate fusiform rust resistance genes in loblolly pine

Resistance to fusiform rust disease in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is a classic gene-for-gene system. Early resistance gene mapping in the P. taeda family 10-5 identified RAPD markers for a major fusiform rust resistance gene, Fr1. More recently, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with resistance were mapped to a full-length gene model in the loblolly pine genome encoding for a nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein. NLR genes are one of the most abundant gene families in plant genomes and are involved in effector-triggered immunity. Inter- and intraspecies studies of NLR gene diversity and expression have resulted in improved disease resistance. To characterize NLR gene diversity and discover potential resistance genes, we assembled de novo transcriptomes from 92 loblolly genotypes from across the natural range of the species. In these transcriptomes, we identified novel NLR transcripts that are not present in the loblolly pine reference genome and found significant geographic diversity of NLR genes providing evidence of gene family evolution. We designed capture probes for these NLRs to identify and map SNPs that stably cosegregate with resistance to the SC20-21 isolate of Cronartium quercuum f.sp. fusiforme (Cqf) in half-sib progeny of the 10-5 family. We identified 10 SNPs and 2 quantitative trait loci associated with resistance to SC20-21 Cqf. The geographic diversity of NLR genes provides evidence of NLR gene family evolution in loblolly pine. The SNPs associated with rust resistance provide a resource to enhance breeding and deployment of resistant pine seedlings.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Water use of co‐occurring loblolly ( Pinus taeda ) and shortleaf ( Pinus echinata ) in a loblolly pine plantation in the Piedmont

Abstract Measuring water use in co‐occurring loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinataMill.) enhances our understanding of their competitive water use and aids in refining watershed water budget model parameters. This study was conducted in a 12‐ha forested headwater catchment in the Piedmont of North Carolina, southeastern U.S., from 2018 to 2019 (pre‐thinning) to 2020 (post‐thinning). Sap flux density (J s ), species‐level transpiration (T s ), and watershed‐level transpiration (T w ) were quantified. Water use efficiency (WUE) in loblolly and shortleaf pines was compared, alongside an investigation into how both species'J s andT s responded to atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Loblolly pine had 19%–36% higherJ s than shortleaf pine. DailyT s for loblolly pine ranged from 15.0 to 29.0 L/day whileT s in shortleaf pine ranged from 3.0 to 6.8 L/day. TheT s was significantly higher in loblolly pine when compared to shortleaf pine likely due to higher canopy position and higher growth rates of the former. WUE, defined by annual tree biomass growth per tree water use, was not significantly different between the two. DailyJ s andT s in both species responded nonlinearly to VPD, with loblolly pine being more sensitive and variable. Species‐specific water use should be considered when quantifyingT w and developing reliable models to predict the effects of forest management practices on water resources.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2026

AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F US-Dk3 Duke Forest - loblolly pine

This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Dk3 Duke Forest - loblolly pine. This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Dk3 Duke Forest - loblolly pine produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - The site was established in 1983 following a clear cut and a burn. Pinus taeda L. (loblolly pine) seedlings were planted at 2.4m by 2.4m spacing and ecosystem development has not been managed after planting. Canopy height increased from 16m in 2001 to 18m in 2004. The canopy is comprised primarily of P. taeda with some emergent Liquidambar styraciflua L. and a diverse and growing understory with 26 different woody species of diameter breast height 42.5 cm. The flux tower lies upwind of the CO2-enriched components of the free atmosphere carbon enrichment (FACE) facility located in the same pine forest. EC instrumentation is at 20.2m on a 22m tower.

Oishi, Chris [USDA Forest Service]↗
DOE OSTI2021

High contribution of canopy to oleoresin accumulation in loblolly pine trees

The shoot system of all loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) contains abundant resin ducts, and the oleoresins contained within them have demonstrated roles in constitutive defenses. This study is providing a quantitative assessment of oleoresin biosynthesis and accumulation in resin ducts. Morphometric analyses of representative tissue sections indicate that the fractional volume of resin ducts is particularly high in the cortex of young stems and their needles, representing a major portion of total pine resins from primary growth of the canopy. We demonstrate that it is possible to extrapolate oleoresin formation from the microscopic scale (tissues sections) to the macroscale (entire trees), which has implications for assessing resins as renewable feedstocks for bioproducts.

Srividya, Narayanan↗
DOE OSTI2023

Bioleaching to produce clean loblolly pine for thermochemical conversion

Lignocellulosic biomass contains inorganic elements that could induce slagging, ash fouling, and emission of both corrosive and harmful gases during thermochemical conversion. Water leaching pretreatment can remove most of the water-soluble elements, while it has limited industrial applicability due to its ineffectiveness in removing water-insoluble elements. Bioleaching is an alternative pretreatment method which has not been fully studied. In this work, bioleaching by Aspergillus niger strains NRRL 2001, NRRL 3122, and NRRL 567 was conducted to pretreat loblolly pine biomass with added water. Further, the removal of inorganic elements (K, Ca, Mg, and S) by bioleaching with A. niger NRRL 2001 was compared with chemical leaching with citric acid, HCl, and NaOH. It was shown that the pH reduction during bioleaching greatly improved K and Mg leaching to the point comparable to acid leaching, whereas Ca was precipitated by oxalic acid produced by the fungus. Bioleaching was also conducted in manually separated needles and chips components of loblolly pine. Glucose was added at different levels to assist bioleaching. At higher glucose levels, gluconic acid and citric acid were produced during bioleaching, leading to the increase of K, Ca, and Mg removal rates by more than 35%, 180%, and 390%, respectively, from the feedstock as compared with water leaching. Overall, bioleaching greatly improved removal of K, Ca, Mg, but not S from loblolly pine feedstocks as compared with water leaching.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Impacts of Biopolymer Structural and Chemical Attributes on the Products Distributions of Pyrolyzed Loblolly Pine

This presentation evaluates the impact that biopolymer structural and chemical attributes of pyrolyzed loblolly pine has on product distributions, with a focus on how how the anatomical fractions lead to chemical variability, and then how this variability impacts conversion. As an example, bark and needles represent extreme compositional fractions, and these result in differences in pyrolysis yield.

biomass↗
DOE OSTI2021

Temporal nitrogen dynamics in intensively managed loblolly pine early stand development

Forest production is strongly dependent on nutrient uptake; however, sustainable management of intensively managed plantations requires an improved understanding of this relationship when fertilization occurs frequently across short rotations. Here, we studied temporal nitrogen (N) concentration ([N]) and content (Nc) dynamics under different silvicultural practices (herbicide, fertilization, and planting density) throughout early loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stand development (5 years). We describe relationships of [N] and Nc of different stand components (foliage, branches, stem, roots, and competing vegetation) with carbon and biomass. Our results demonstrate that [N] of perennial loblolly tissues do not respond to silvicultural practices and progressively decrease through development. While foliar [N] was most responsive to resource availability, it was not consistent across time. Controlling competing vegetation was crucial to promote the use of site resources by the crop tree and increased loblolly Nc by >500%. However, increased N uptake and expedited growth is dependent upon fertilization early in stand development. At age 5, herbicide plus reduced and full fertilization rates exhibited similar aboveground Nc, which was 32% higher than with herbicide only. Increasing planting density resulted in increased above- and belowground loblolly Nc; however, increases in Nc were not proportional with increases in planting density. Net primary productivity and N uptake were linearly related, but age/development strongly controlled N use efficiency. Our study helps to understand complex relationships between N, biomass, and silvicultural practices during early stand development and demonstrates that temporal evaluation of nutrient dynamics is crucial to better understand loblolly pine growth, carbon sequestration potential, and to inform sustainable silvicultural practices across short rotations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impact of low-chemical storage pretreatment of loblolly pine bark on biochar from microwave pyrolysis

Forest product residues such as bark represent a low-cost, abundant feedstock for bioenergy, but their high ash and alkali and alkaline earth metal (AAEM) content limit thermochemical conversion efficiency. This study evaluates the use of low-severity chemical pretreatments during anaerobic storage to improve the performance of microwave pyrolysis for loblolly pine bark. Bark was treated with dilute sulfuric acid (0.1% and 1%, w/w) or sodium hydroxide (4%, w/w) and incubated anaerobically for one or two weeks to simulate in-pile biorefinery storage. The most effective treatment—1% H2SO4 for two weeks—reduced AAEM content by 35.7% and increased bio-oil yield by 11% compared to untreated controls, while also reducing pyrolysis gas production. In contrast, alkali treatment did not reduce AAEM levels and led to decreased bio-oil yields with increased gas formation. Although biochar yields were relatively stable across treatments, their physicochemical characteristics varied significantly. Acid-treated bark yielded biochars with higher carbon content, lower O/C and H/C ratios, greater surface area, and enhanced heating values. These improvements suggest that chemical pretreatment during storage can tailor biochar quality for specific end uses. Biochars produced under optimized conditions exhibited properties suitable for soil amendment, carbon sequestration, and solid fuel applications. This integrated approach—combining storage, mild chemical conditioning, and microwave pyrolysis—provides a viable pathway to enhance the value and sustainability of bark-derived bioenergy products.

09 - BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Influence of loblolly pine anatomical fractions and tree age on oil yield and composition during fast pyrolysis

Fast pyrolysis of woody materials is a technology pathway for producing renewable fuels and chemicals. This is a presentation of isolating needles, bark, and stemwood from a single tree as well as isolating stemwood and whole tree samples from the same species of tree with different ages and pyrolyzing each individually as well as in mixtures. This gives insight into the role of tree anatomical fractions on the resulting intermediate oil product as well as into interactions between these components. The highest carbon content oil (45.1 wt% as received) was produced from a one-to-one mixture of stemwood and needles, followed by the pure stemwood (43.4–43.8 wt% as received), while the lowest oil carbon content was from a one-to-one blend of bark and needles (26.7 wt% as received). The pyrolysis oil yield (combining oil and aqueous where separation occurred) varied from 54 wt% as received (needles) to 72.3 wt% as received (stemwood). When comparing trees of different ages, we find the change in the ratio of the anatomical fractions is a dominant factor in the product composition and yields, while the product composition and yields vary slightly with tree age when only the stemwood is pyrolyzed. Here, in this study, we present the bench-scale pyrolysis, yields, and product characterization of loblolly pine feedstocks (13- vs. 23 year-old, residues, air-classified residues, whole tree, needles, bark, and stemwood).

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Conversion of Loblolly pine biomass residues to bio-oil in a two-step process: Fast pyrolysis in the presence of zeolite and catalytic hydrogenation

In this work, Loblolly pine biomass residue was converted to bio-oil in a two-step process, consisting of 1) fast pyrolysis in the presence of zeolite ZSM-5 as a catalyst to produce pyrolysis oil, 2) hydrogenation of pyrolysis oil using formic acid as the hydrogen source in presence of Ru/activated carbon catalyst. Pyrolysis oils were analyzed by 13 C, 31 P and HSQC-NMR and the results revealed that the zeolite-induced catalytic fast pyrolysis process led to effective demethoxylation, producing more catechol and p-hydroxy-phenyl hydroxyl groups in the bio-oils, resulting in a decrease in the methoxyl group content by about 85 % and rich aromatic structures in the pyrolysis oils. The properties of pyrolysis oil with and without zeolite were in the bio-oil range. Hydrogenated pyrolysis oil showed that 79 % of the aromatic protons are eliminated and 87 % of protons are aliphatic in nature, with no oxygen attached to the α-carbon.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Mechanical Characterization of Loblolly Pine

Biorefineries are faced with various material flow challenges during feeding and handling, due to inherent variability and inhomogeneity of biomass feedstocks. This impacts the efficiency of refinery processes and unit operations. Proper characterization of bulk properties allows for optimal process design and reduction of overall costs. This work is aimed at evaluating the physical and mechanical properties that impact bulk flow of loblolly pine. Cyclic axial compression tests are performed to elucidate consolidation behavior under different stress conditions. The results are then used to develop correlations between material parameters (particle size, tissue type, moisture content) and Elastic Modulus of bulk samples.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Herbicide, fertilization, and planting density effects on intensively managed loblolly pine early stand development

Production forestry in the southeast US has been partially transitioned to intensively managed short rotations (~10 years), in which multiple silvicultural interventions are performed during forest development. Understanding the responses to silvicultural practices and continued refinement of site-specific recommendations is critical to sustainably maximize forest production. We evaluated the effects of silvicultural practices (herbicide, fertilization, and planting density) on growth, stand homogeneity, and above- and belowground biomass accumulation and partitioning of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) throughout early stand development (age 5 years) in the southeastern US. Five treatments with eight replications each were tested: no herbicide and no fertilization (C); herbicide only (H); herbicide and half-reduced fertilization rate (R); herbicide and full fertilization (F); and increased stand density (60+ %; 1346 vs. 2152 trees per hectare) with herbicide and full fertilization rate (D). Allometric equations generated from destructive harvests were applied to annual diameter measurements to estimate plot-level biomass and allocation. Herbicide was crucial to promote stand uniformity and increase yield (~600+ % stem biomass compared with C at age 5). Aboveground biomass was similar in R and F treatments, which was ~25% higher than in H at age 5. Increasing planting density along with multiple herbicide and fertilizer applications yielded higher biomass without compromising individual tree size (diameter and height). There was little effect of silviculture practices on allocation patterns. Our results parallel what was found for fertilization with herbicide from a number of loblolly stands under similar conditions and indicate a ~28% volume gain with fertilization during early stand development. Similarly, our results were consistent with other studies implementing similar differences in planting density and suggest a ~26% volume gain through early stand development with an initial 60% increase in planting density. Furthermore, our study helps to understand complex relationships between production and silvicultural practices during early stand development and demonstrates that silvicultural prescriptions can be optimized to increase sustainability of production forestry

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Effect of particle size and moisture on flow performance of loblolly pine anatomical fractions: Experimental findings and model predictions

The rising energy demand has highlighted biomass as a promising next-generation energy source. However, commercializing biomass-derived energy faces challenges, particularly in handling biomass feedstock. Factors like particle size, shape, moisture content, and surface roughness significantly impact biomass flowability. This study addresses a crucial knowledge gap by examining the effects of particle size and moisture content on the flow behavior and shear properties of different anatomical fractions of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). The bulk shear behavior was examined using a Schulze ring shear tester, while flow performance was tested through gravity-driven flow experiments in a variable wedge-shape hopper. Results were incorporated into empirical and machine learning-based flow prediction models to evaluate their accuracy and limitations. The study found that samples with higher moisture content show higher unconfined yield strength. The critical arching distance increased with particle size, e.g., from approximately 13 and 33 mm for 2- and 6-mm whole chips, respectively at a 32-degree inclination angle. Conversely, the flow rate decreased for a given hopper opening as particle size increased. For instance, at a 60-mm hopper opening and a 32-degree inclination angle, the mass flow rates for 2- and 6-mm whole chips were 7.83 and 6.42 tonne/h, respectively. The empirical model consistently overpredicted the mass flow rate for all anatomical fractions, while the machine learning model more accurately predicted the central tendency of flow rate but was insensitive to varying tissue proportions. These novel findings provide comprehensive characterization of anatomical fractions, reveal significant combined effects of particle size and moisture content on biomass flow behavior, and demonstrate a better predictive accuracy of a machine learning model, all of which are useful for optimizing material handling strategies and biomass utilization technologies in the industry.

09 - BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

On the Fidelity of Computational Models for the Flow of Milled Loblolly Pine: A Benchmark Study on Continuum-Mechanics Models and Discrete-Particle Models

The upstream of bioenergy industry has suffered from unreliable operations of granular biomass feedstocks in handling equipment. Computational modeling, including continuum-mechanics models and discrete-particle models, offers insightful understandings and predictive capabilities on the flow of milled biomass and can assist equipment design and optimization. This paper presents a benchmark study on the fidelity of the continuum and discrete modeling approaches for predicting granular biomass flow. We first introduce the constitutive law of the continuum-mechanics model and the contact law of the coarse-grained discrete-particle model, with model parameters calibrated against laboratory characterization tests of the milled loblolly pine. Three classical granular material flow systems (i.e., a lab-scale rotating drum, a pilot-scale hopper, and a full-scale inclined plane) are then simulated using the two models with the same initial and boundary conditions as the physical experiments. The close agreement of the numerical predictions with the experimental measurements on the hopper mass flow rate, the hopper critical outlet width, the material stopping thickness on the inclined plane, and the dynamic angle of repose, clearly indicates that the two methods can capture the critical flow behavior of granular biomass. The qualitative comparison shows that the continuum-mechanics model outperforms in parameterization of materials and wall friction, and large-scale systems, while the discrete-particle model is more preferred for discontinuous flow systems at smaller scales. Industry stakeholders can use these findings as guidance for choosing appropriate numerical tools to model biomass material flow in part of the optimization of material handling equipment in biorefineries.

Jin, Wencheng↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of DNA methylation‐based epigenetic age predictors in loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda )

Abstract Biological ageing is connected to life history variation across ecological scales and informs a basic understanding of age‐related declines in organismal function. Altered DNA methylation dynamics are a conserved aspect of biological ageing and have recently been modelled to predict chronological age among vertebrate species. In addition to their utility in estimating individual age, differences between chronological and predicted ages arise due to acceleration or deceleration of epigenetic ageing, and these discrepancies are linked to disease risk and multiple life history traits. Although evidence suggests that patterns of DNA methylation can describe ageing in plants, predictions with epigenetic clocks have yet to be performed. Here, we resolve the DNA methylome across CpG, CHG, and CHH‐methylation contexts in the loblolly pine tree ( Pinus taeda ) and construct epigenetic clocks capable of predicting ages in this species within 6% of its maximum lifespan. Although patterns of CHH‐methylation showed little association with age, both CpG and CHG‐methylation contexts were strongly associated with ageing, largely becoming hypomethylated with age. Among age‐associated loci were those in close proximity to malate dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase, and 18S and 26S ribosomal RNA genes. This study reports one of the first epigenetic clocks in plants and demonstrates the universality of age‐associated DNA methylation dynamics which can inform conservation and management practices, as well as our ecological and evolutionary understanding of biological ageing in plants.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗