WWSC Wood Biopolymer Characterization Webinars
Welcome to a webinar series where you meet international experts on wood biopolymer characterization. Take the chance to learn more about the characterization, ask questions and discuss in this webinar series, held online via Zoom meetings.
The focus will be on learning and let the participants gain more insight into the characterization of wood biopolymers and the techniques that is used.
Register to receive a link to the Zoom-webinars. The webinars are open for all to attend.
Program 2022
Part 2: Challenges for molar mass determinations of wood biopolymers
Webinar 3:
January 13, 14.00 – 15.30 CET
Prof. Bjørn E. Christensen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
The presentation will first present polysaccharides in solution from a physico-chemical point of view with relevance for size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) studies. Then the fundamentals of SEC and SEC combined with multiple detectors to provide molar mass (M) distributions (and averages), radii of gyration (RG) and intrinsic viscosities ([h]) will be described. Finally, the use of M-RG and M-[h] data to obtain information about chain extension and conformation will be discussed.
Dr. Christensen works within the field of polysaccharide engineering. His interest lies n particular within structure-function studies of naturally occurring as well as chemically/enzymatically engineered polysaccharides. The approach has elements from both polymer science and carbohydrate chemistry. Main systems studied over the years include xanthan, dextran, cellulose, chitin, chitosan, alginates and hyaluronan as well as others. We have recently started to study a new generation of engineered block polysaccharides obtained by terminal conjugation of polysaccharide blocks from different sources.
The biopolymer laboratory at NTNU is well equipped with instrumentation suited for polysaccharide research: Analytical and preparative chromatography, SEC-MALLS, ITC, DSC, NMR, CD/ORD etc.
Webinar 4:
January 28, 14.00 – 15.30 CET
Prof. Antje Potthast, BOKU, Austria
Dr. Antje Potthast is professor (Chemistry of lignocellulosic materials) at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). She works with analysis and modification of biopolymers, especially cellulose and lignin in very different research areas including analytical method development, speed analysis for lignin characterization, methods for cellulose modification and application strategies for lignocellulose biopolymers.
Program 2021
Part 1: Mass spectrometry for wood biopolymer analysis
Webinar 1:
December 3, 14.00 – 15.30 CET
Introduction to wood biopolymers: Challenges for molecular characterization
Analysis of chemically modified polysaccharides by mass spectrometry
Prof. Petra Mischnick, TU Braunschweig, Germany
Polysaccharides, especially cellulose and starch, are chemically modified in various ways in order to change their natural properties and open a wide field of application, for instance in construction, food, and pharma. Beside the type of derivative formed, the average degree of substitution (DS) and the distribution of the substituents in a polyfunctional polymer have a significant impact on the resulting physicochemical properties. Beside proper sample preparation, mass spectrometry is a key tool in the analysis of the complex substitution pattern of such materials.
Petra Mischnick was professor at the Institute of Food Chemistry of Technische Universität Braunschweig until 2020 and, from 2008-2012, at KTH Stockholm, FPT.
Her main research interests are focused on polysaccharides and polysaccharide derivatives, especially on the comprehensive analysis of structure and substituent patterns
Webinar 2:
December 10, 14.00 – 15.00 CET
Assoc. Prof. Mirjam Kabel, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands
Dr Kabel worked on fungal, enzymatic and thermochemical lignocellulose conversion for >20 years and has a strong expertise in plant biomass analytics and biochemistry. Relevant projects relate(d) to 2nd generation bioethanol, feed conversion, and optimal substrate production for commercial white button mushroom.
Her group is well equipped with sophisticated analytics combining chromatographic, mass spectrometric and NMR technologies.
Organisers and contact
The webinar series is arranged by Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC) in collaboration with Treesearch.
Contact and organizer: Francisco Vilaplana, WWSC
WWSC is a research center with a focus on new materials from trees. Visit wwsc.se
Do you have technical questions about the online seminars or registration? Please contact communication@treesearch.se
