An Angus Banting Memorial Seminar

An Angus Banting Memorial Seminar

Department of Bioresource Engineering
Macdonald Campus of McGill University

Wednesday, November 24, 2010
17:30-18:30 in room R2-046 (Raymond Building)

Dr. Danielle Julie Carrier
Professor
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
University of Arkansas
will speak on
Feedstocks for Biorefineries

Abstract: In the near future it will probably be possible to manufacture liquid fuels from non-starch
based feedstocks which will be mostly derived from plants. In the U.S. the hardwood species
Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum) and the herbaceous species Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)
are likely candidates. Such feedstocks usually contain cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose. To be
economically competitive a biorefinery must utilize a process in which most of the available sugars
are utilized, including five carbon sugars like xylose that result from the depolymerization of
hemicellulose. In the overall process hemicellulose depolymerization is critical because it impacts
overall conversion, and understanding it is very important. The production of valuable co-products,
like shikimic acid and rutin, respectively from sweetgum and switchgrass, will also be discussed.

Bio: Dr. Carrier has been a professor since 1996, first at the University of Saskatchewan and then,
since 2000, at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Arkansas) in the Department of Biological
and Agricultural Engineering. She was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2009. She received
her BSc in Agricultural Engineering in 1984, her MEng in Chemical Engineering in1986 and her
PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1992, all from McGill University.

Dr. Carrier’s research program is focused on the extraction of carbohydrates and phytochemicals
from biomass. She is particularly interested in forest residue and herbaceous energy crops, and in
pressurized hot water and dilute acid pretreatments. She has authored more than 65 peerreviewed
publications, one patent, and two book chapters. Until now she has trained more than 12
graduate students.

Note: coffee and donuts beforehand in MS1-066 (the Louvre) from 17:00 - 17:30