Bio-Circular Workshop: BC Bark BioInnovations at BPI

LOCATION: CHBE 202, 2360 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4

About the Event

Join us to learn about an innovative project where BPI researchers are valorizing bark from BC forest resources, in collaboration with the BC Ministry of Forests, Innovation Bioeconomy and Indigenous Opportunities Branch, and the Uchucklesaht First Nation. You'll have the opportunity to meet key stakeholders and enjoy a series of flash presentations by our researchers, diving deep into sustainable innovations and community partnerships in BC's bioeconomy sector.

Agenda

• 1:00pm Opening Remarks
  • Orlando Rojas, BPI Scientific Director
  • David McCormick, Economic Development Manager, Uchucklesaht First Nation
  • Catherine Nutting, Indigenous Bioeconomy Policy Analyst, BC Ministry of Forests
• 1:20pm BPI Researchers' Presentations
  • Marina Mehling, PhD Candidate - Western Hemlock Bark for Clean Water
  • Gio Ferson Bautista, PhD Candidate - The Chemistry of Western Red Cedar Bark
  • Isabella Howley, Undergrad Student - Bacterial Cellulose from Red Wine Vinegar Production for Bio-based Packaging Applications 
  • Matthew Cao, PhD Candidate - Betulin Organogelation 
  • Xun Niu, PhD Candidate - Triterpenes from Bark: Cosmetics and Hydrophobic Foams 
• 1:55pm Q&A

Abstracts

Marina Mehling - Western Hemlock Bark for Clean Water

Tannins, another extract found in bark, have long been used to tan animal hides and hold cultural and medicinal significance. While commercial tannic acid (tannins derived from gall nuts) have been impressively found to be able to capture diverse antibiotics and microplastics from water, this work explores if tannins from Western Hemlock bark hold the sample potential for pollutant capture.

Gio Ferson Bautista - The Chemistry of Western Red Cedar Bark

The compounds in Western Red Cedar bark that have been characterized and reported in literature are presented. Some opportunities for further research will also be presented. The presentation will follow the report compiled by the Western Forest Products Laboratory of the same title.

Isabella Howley - Bacterial Cellulose from Red Wine Vinegar Production for Bio-based Packaging Applications 

Tannins embedded in bacterial cellulose can expand the broad applications of tannin-inclusive materials to include food packaging. The bacterial cellulose “mother” waste from the red wine vinegar industry naturally contains the tannins that provide the astringent flavour in red wine. Value is added by treating the waste to form a bioplastic, promoting a circular bioeconomy.

Matthew Cao - Betulin Organogelation 

Betulin belongs to a class of triterpenoids that is found in the outer bark of birch trees. This study explores the organogelation capabilities of betulin as a low molecular weight gelator in select organic solvents.

Xun Niu - Triterpenes from Bark: Cosmetics and Hydrophobic Foams 

In the forest industry, bark represents the least utilized forestry biomass resources, given its complicated structure and recalcitrance toward processing. Thus, direct processing and conversion of bark components to novel building blocks, fitting material design, and creating a green and well-justified alternative are needed. One can take advantage of the structural characteristics of bark at the cellular scale, with fibre as the skeleton and extractives located freely in the cell. In this work, the self-assembly behaviour of bark extract (betulin) at molecules and interfaces and the structure-property correlations that expand the material design and bark fibre application of materials are presented.