New research opportunities at IPST at Georgia Tech.The Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST IPST Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Inc. IPST Internet Professional Sales Training ), formerly the Institute of Paper Chemistry, has always had a strong commitment to the pulp and paper industry The global pulp and paper industry is dominated by North American (United States, Canada), northern European (Finland, Sweden) and East Asian countries (such as Japan). Australasia and Latin America also have significant pulp and paper industries. due to its academic program and the involvement of its alumni. In July 2003, the Institute integrated with the Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Institute of Technology, in Atlanta, Ga.; coeducational; state supported; chartered 1885, opened 1888. It is a member school in the university system of Georgia. Significant among its facilities and programs are the Frank H. (Georgia Tech) and is now one of four interdisciplinary research institutes on the Georgia Tech campus focused on new technology for the pulp and paper industry. IPST's graduate pulp and paper program is now based at four schools within Georgia Tech: Chemistry and Biochemistry; Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Materials Science materials science Study of the properties of solid materials and how those properties are determined by the material's composition and structure, both macroscopic and microscopic. & Engineering. The merger has had a dramatically positive impact on graduate education and research at IPST at Georgia Tech. The core of our education process has been strengthened. New facilities and a larger base of educational and research opportunities are now available to students who wish to pursue a rigorous graduate education in wood chemistry. Students can specialize in pulp and paper science or focus on innovative biomass/biopolymer chemistry. Our graduate research studies are directed to harness the possibilities inherent in the chemistry/material science of cellulose, the most abundant organic chemical on earth. Research efforts are continuing at a fast pace. For example, to date I have supervised the graduate work of 16 Master's students and 18 doctoral students; of these six have received awards, such as graduate student award of the American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a learned society (professional association) based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has over 160,000 members at all degree-levels and in and best IPST student. Currently, a large group of students and postdoctoral post·doc·tor·al also post·doc·tor·ate adj. Of, relating to, or engaged in academic study beyond the level of a doctoral degree. Noun 1. research fellows are being trained. In our group we have four post-doctoral fellows, one Master's student and nine doctoral students, so there is a lot of interaction. There is always room for more gifted, enthusiastic graduate students. PAPER PERFORMANCE A major focus at IPST at Georgia Tech involves research aimed at improving the performance of paper and identifying new applications for lignocellulosic fibers. For example, through the use of a combination of chemistry, biotechnology, nano, and plasma technologies, our research groups are looking at ways to improve current paper making processes, as well as to improve strength, absorbency ab·sor·bent adj. Capable of absorbing: absorbent cotton. n. A substance that is capable of absorbing. ab·sor , and other paper properties. An exciting aspect of this research is the development of new nano-cellulose and hemicellulose hem·i·cel·lu·lose n. Any of several polysaccharides that are more complex than a sugar and less complex than cellulose and found in plant cell walls. hemicellulose structural polysaccharide of plants. based materials. These materials allow researchers to impart a variety of new functionalities to paper, including controlled release, enhanced barrier properties for packaging and security, new water absorption properties, and other technologies that will convert paper into an active, value-added material. IPST at Georgia Tech is also continuing its ongoing research program in bleaching and pulping for kraft and mechanical pulps. In addition, the school is pursuing new studies in nanocomposites, biomaterials, and biofuels. IPST at Georgia Tech is currently building a "nanocenter" that will include 3 scanning electron microscopes scan·ning electron microscope n. Abbr. SEM An electron microscope that forms a three-dimensional image on a cathode-ray tube by moving a beam of focused electrons across an object and reading both the electrons scattered by the object and (SEMs). These units include a high resolution, digital scanning, tunneling microscopy/atomic force microscope facility; a 200 KeV scanning transmission electron microscopy/transmission electron microscope electron microscope: see microscope. ; and dual beam focused ion beam Focused ion beam, also known as FIB, is a technique used particularly in the semiconductor and materials science fields for site-specific analysis, deposition, and ablation of materials. The FIB is a scientific instrument that resembles a scanning electron microscope. units. This facility will help accelerate efforts to develop new nanotechnologies for the forest products industry. The merger has opened up the infrastructure of Georgia Tech to IPST students and faculty. The new organization provides multiple benefits for students, including more chances to interact with a variety of faculty, greater access to modern research facilities, and ultimately greater employment opportunities. In addition, from an IPST perspective we now can cheer for nationally-competitive university sports teams, including the GT football and baseball teams! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Art Ragauskas is a faculty member and directs student research at the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Paper Science and Technology at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Ragauskas, with almost 20 years of experience in oxidative bleaching chemistry, carbohydrate, fiber/lignin/cellulose chemistry and nanobiotechnology, is currently pursuing research in the areas of biopolymers and pulp and paper science. In 2003, he was elected a TAPPI TAPPI Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Fellow and a Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science. Contact him by email at arthur.ragauskas@ipst.gatech.edu or at ragauskas@hotmail.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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