Kaichang Li
	New!!  Kaichang receives the 2007 "Green Chemistry" Award Adhesive News Articles
		Associate Professor Department of Wood Science & Engineering 102 Richardson Hall Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon  97331
		EMAIL: Kaichang.Li@oregonstate.edu
	Phone: (541) 737-8421; Fax:  (541) 737-3385

Education

• Ph.D.      Wood Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, September 1996.
• M.S.        Organic Synthesis, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, P.R. China, 1987.
• B.S.        Applied Chemistry, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, P.R. China, June 1984.

• Associate Professor.  Department of Wood Science & Engineering, Oregon State University, 2005-Present.
• Assistant Professor. Department of Forest Products, Oregon State University, July 1999 -2005.
• Assistant Research Biochemist (Assistant Professor level).  Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia. November, 1998 -- June, 1999
• Postdoctoral Research Associate. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia. Advisor: Prof. Karl-Erik L. Eriksson. Studies of fungal degradation of lignin. October, 1996 -- October, 1998.
• Graduate Research Assistant. Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Major Advisor: Richard F. Helm. Thesis title: “Synthesis of Lignin-Carbohydrate Model Compounds and Neolignans.” January, 1993 -- September, 1996.
• Research Associate and Instructor. South China University of Technology/P.R. China. (1987 - 1992). The industrial utilization of lignin from the waste liquor in paper mills. 
• Graduate Research Assistant. South China University of Technology/P.R. China. (1984-1987). Synthesized novel phase-transfer catalysts 

WSE 445/545 -- Chemical Wood Processing and Pollution Control

This course covers the basics of the papermaking process. More specifically, the covered contents are as follows: wood and wood chip quality, pulping methods and pulping chemistry, kraft recovery, pulp bleaching methods and bleaching chemistry, pulp processing, paper additives and wet-end chemistry, papermaking, paper and paper properties, and environmental impacts of papermaking. Applications of biotechnology in pulp and paper industry, such as biopulping, biobleaching, and pitch control, will be covered as well. Fall quarter.

WSE 535 -- Polymer Syntesis and Structure

This course will overview various synthetic methods for making polymers. This course also discusses structure of polymer molecules and role of that structure in properties.

Development of formaldehyde-free wood adhesives from renewable natural resources; development and characterization of superior wood-plastic composites; investigation of interfacial chemistry of wood-plastic composites; development of new paper additives from renewable natural resources with biological methods; development of new applications for room temperature ionic  liquids; novel technology for bio-energy, mechanistic studies of lignin biodegradation; development of an environmentally benign pulp bleaching technique; modification of cellulose and lignin for a high-value added product; pulping and pulp bleaching chemistry.  

My research programs encompass the following broad areas:  1)  development of formaldehyde-free wood adhesives from renewable natural resources, 2) development and characterization of superior wood-plastic composites, 3) investigation of interfacial chemistry of wood-plastic composites, 4) development of new paper additives from renewable natural resources with biological methods, 5) development of new applications for room temperature ionic liquids, 6) development of pressure sensitive adhesives from renewable materials, 7) development of novel dental adhesives, 8) development of novel dental composite materials.

Development of Formaldehyde-Free Wood Adhesives.  There are two important issues associated with the currently used wood adhesives, phenol-formaldehyde (PF) and urea-formaldehyde  (UF), in the forest products industry:  1)  These synthetic adhesives are petroleum-based, whereas the resources for petroleum are naturally limited; 2)  Hazardous compounds such as formaldehyde may be emitted in the production and the use of wood composites bonded with PF and UF resins.  Our objective for this study is to develop a commercially viable,  formaldehyde-free wood adhesive from renewable natural resources for production of wood composites.  

Inspired by the strong and water-resistant binding of marine organisms such as mussels to rocks and other substances, we are investigating conversion of renewable natural resources such as soy protein, carbohydrates, and lignin to a strong and water-resistant wood adhesives.  At present, one of our formaldehyde-free soy-based adhesives is commercially used for production of interiorly used plywood.  The use of our formaldehyde-free wood adhesives for commercial production of other wood composites such as particleboard is being evaluated at a mill scale.  Click here:  NEWS REPORTS--to read some of news reports about our success of developing commercially viable environmentally friendly adhesives.

Development and Characterization of Superior Wood-Plastic Composites.  We have recently developed superior wood-plastic composites whose strengths are comparable with solid wood.  I have recently been awarded a research grant by a startup company to develop scale-up techniques for commercial production of these superior composites.  I have also been rewarded a research grant for development and characterization of superior wood-rubber composites and novel coupling agents for silica-filled rubber composites.

Investigation of Interfacial Chemistry of Wood-Plastic Composites.  Wood-plastic composites such as wood-filled polypropylene are one of the fastest growing sectors in the wood composites industry.  However, the interface between the wood and the plastic is typically weak and fails to transfer stress between the phases.  Consequently, the full strength of the wood is unavailable to reinforce the plastic.  One solution to this problem is a compatibilizer that bridges the interface and improves the stress transfer between the wood and plastic.  We are developing a superior family of wood-plastic compatibilizers and gaining a better understanding of interfacial chemistry of wood-plastic composites.

Development of New Paper Additives from Plant Proteins with Biological Methods.  This project is to investigate conversion of currently over-supplied wheat gluten and corn protein to various paper additives such and paper dry strength agents and paper wet-strength agents using biological methods.

Development of New Applications for Room Temperature Ionic Liquids.  Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) are salt-like compounds that are liquid at or near ambient temperature.  RTILs have ionic character, thus having essentially zero vapor pressure.  They are good solvents for a variety of organic, inorganic and polymeric materials.  More and more reports reveal that RTILs may be used as environmentally  friendly solvents and catalysts for various organic reactions and industrial processes.  My research group, as well as my colleague, Dr.  Michael Milota's research group, are working together to utilize the unique properties of RTILs for reduction of volatile organic compounds from exhaust gas in the drying and hot-press of wood-based products.  We have recently found that RTILs can serve as excellent lubricants for production of wood-plastic composites.  We are exploring new applications of RTILs.

(1)  Jian Huang, M.S., 2007.  Development and characterization of new formaldehyde-free soy flour-based adhesives for making interior plywood.

(2)  Yuan Liu, Ph.D., 2005.  Formaldehyde-free wood adhesives from soybean protein and lignin:  development and characterization.

(3)  Dakai Ren, M.S., 2005, Development of temporary wet strength resins from wheat gluten.

(4)  Yu Geng, Ph.D., 2005, Investigation of new compatibilizer systems for wood-polyethylene composites.

(5)  Cheng Zhang, Ph.D., 2005.  Improved  interfacial adhesion in wood-plastic composites:  development of new compatibilizers.

(6)  Fujun Wang, M.S., 2005.  Henry's law constants for pollutants from the wood industry in room temperature ionic liquids.

(7)  Hartono A. Saputra, M.S., 2004.  The effects of extractives and compatibilizers on the flexural properties of natural fiber-thermoplastic composites.

(8)  Svetlana Peshkova, M.S., 2002.  Development of formaldehyde-free wood adhesives.

Li, K.  Formaldehyde-free adhesives and lignocellulosic composites made from the adhesives, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/538,932.  Application data, January 22, 2004.

Li, K.  and Geng, X.  Adhesive compositions and methods of using and making the same.   US patent # 7,265,169.  Issue date, September 4, 2007

Li, K.  Formaldehyde-free lignocellulosic adhesives and composites made from the adhesives.  U.S. Patent No. 7,252,735.  Issue date, August 7 2007.

Li, K.  and Liu, Y.  Modified protein adhesives and lignocellulosic composites made from the adhesives. U.S. Patent No. 7,060,798. Issue date, June 13, 2006.

Emerging Faculty Scholar Award, Oregon State University Chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, May 2002.

Archer Daniels Midland Award for Best Paper in Engineering/Technology in 2004 by American Oil Chemists' Society (Li, K., S. Peshkova, and X. Geng), 2004.  Investigation of soy protein-kymene adhesive systems for wood composites.  J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 81(5):487-491.

2007 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.

• American Chemical Society
• Forest Products Society

Catal, T., K. Li, H. Bermek, and H. Liu. 2008. Electricity production from twelve monosaccharides using microbial fuel cells. J. Power Sources:in press.

Huang, J., and K. Li. 2008. A new soy flour-based adhesive for making interior type II plywood. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc.:in press.

Li, K., and J. Z. Lu. 2008. New Insights into the Mechanisms of Compatibilization in Wood-Plastic Composites, In press. In T. Q. Hu (ed.), Characterization of lignocellulosic materials, vol. Chapter 16. Blackwell Publishing.

Saputra, H. A., J. Simonsen, and K. Li. 2007. Effects of compatibilizers on the flexural properties of grass straw–polyethylene composites. J. Biobased Mat. Bioenergy 1(1):137-142.

Li, K., and K. Zhou. 2007. Room Temperature Ionic liquids as Lubricants for Wood-Polyethylene Composites, p. 168-181. In D. S. Argyropoulos (ed.), ACS Symposium Series 954 -- Materials, Chemicals and Energy from Forest Biomass. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.