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Research Awards and Grants (January 2025)

February 5, 2025

Each month College of Natural Resources faculty receive awards and grants from various federal, state, and nongovernmental agencies in support of their research. This report recognizes the faculty who received funding in January 2025.

Alternative Eradication Methods for the Asian Long horned Beetle

  • PI: Oten, Kelly
  • Direct Sponsor Name: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
  • Awarded Amount: $78,319 
  • Abstract:  This project supports a PhD student and associated research for 1 year. The Asian long horned beetle is an invasive insect killing trees in North America. Traditional eradication methods include felling and chipping trees in urban areas, but this method is not feasible for bottomland hardwood areas, where ALB was detected in 2020. This project assesses an alternative management method of felling and leaving trees on site.

Field Evaluation of Condensed Tannins as a White-Tailed Deer Repellent for Soybeans and Cotton

  • PI: DePerno, Christopher
  • Direct Sponsor Name: NC Soybean Producers Association, Inc.
  • Amount Awarded: $25,000 
  • Abstract: Evaluate condensed tannins as a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) repellent.  This will be a field-based project.  White-tailed deer use will be established in multiple soybean and cotton fields throughout North Carolina.  Once baseline data are established, the treatment (condensed tannins) will be applied to sections of the field.  White-tailed deer use of the field will be evaluated post treatment.

Climate-resilient Open Forests In The Piedmont Of North Carolina: Field Demonstration And Benefit Quantification

  • PI: Martin, Katie
  • Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
  • Awarded Amount: $204,578 
  • Abstract: The purpose of this proposal is to investigate ecosystem dynamics by
    converting a mixed-pine hardwood stand to a Piedmont prairie using prescribed fire and cattle grazing, with a focus on changes in carbon and water fluxes, wildlife species, and cattle benefits. The research aims to promote and demonstrate land management practices benefiting prairie ecosystems and livestock health.

A Novel Approach to Decarbonizing the Pulp and Paper Industry: Kraft Chemical Recovery via Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis (CHROME)

  • PI: Park, Sunkyu
  • Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Energy (DOE) – Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)
  • Amount Awarded: $1,447,304 
  • Abstract: In this project, we propose an advanced kraft pulping chemical recovery process that can significantly reduce GHG emissions by replacing the traditional process (i.e., recovery boiler, causticizing plant, and lime kiln) with a novel bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) system. The process involves four main steps: (1) lignin precipitation using H2SO4, generating additional revenue, (2) a BMED to separate acidified black liquor (Na2SO4 and NaHSO4) by converting them to three streams (i) CO2/H2S gas, (ii) H2SO4, and (iii) NaOH, (3) a gas scrubber to separate H2S from CO2, and (4) white liquor production (NaOH and Na2S) by combining NaOH and H2S, which will be recycled back to the pulping digester. Implementation of the proposed BMED technology in the pulping chemical recovery will allow the elimination of the recovery boiler and lime kiln, which will result in a substantial reduction of CO2 emissions. 

Biocatalysis of Lignocellulosic and Electrostatic Assist Pressing (Bio LEAP) for Drier Web

  • PI: Pal, Lokendra
  • Direct Sponsor Name: US Dept. of Energy (DOE) – Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)
  • Awarded Amount: $913,547 

Abstract: The proposed project will address the critical need for innovation by developing advanced fiber matrixes and process technologies for enhanced dewatering of the paper web after wet pressing through changes that result from biocatalysis and electrostatic assist, thus providing significant opportunities for reducing energy consumption and decarbonization. Specifically, we will focus on the Biocatalysis of Lignocellulosic and Electrostatic Assist Pressing (Bio LEAP) to enhance the dryness of the paper web before entering the dryer section. This will be done by enzymatic and electromechanical treatments by releasing water from lignocellulosic fibers during wet pressing, a feasible solution for integration into the existing papermaking processes. Therefore, Bio LEAP will elucidate a feasible solution for maximizing the dryness after wet pressing while maintaining critical paper properties.