Date of Award

Fall 12-2020

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Forest Resources

Advisor

Adam Daigneault

Second Committee Member

Mehdi Tajvidi

Third Committee Member

Mindy Crandall

Abstract

Maine is poised to meet growing demand for forest ecosystem services from the U.S. construction and recreation industries. Manufacturing sustainable building materials from sustainably-grown Maine wood may help the state to achieve its climate change mitigation and adaptation goals, in addition to revitalizing its rural communities. Managing lands for recreation may have the same effects. This thesis evaluates the financial feasibility of an innovative particle board production line in Chapter 1, and Chapter 2 explores the cultural feasibility of a recreation-based economy in the historic center of Maine’s forest industry. The selective design analysis (+/- 30% accuracy) in Chapter 1 identifies the capital requirements for the commercial-scale manufacturing of both ligno-cellulose nanofiber (LCNF) and particle board (PB) with an LCNF adhesive. The novel application of LCNF as PB adhesive is developed and tested at the University of Maine. The modeled PB process can use either: an 85/15 mix of LCNF from old corrugated cardboard and CNF from untreated wood pulp, or LCNF alone. In the first stage of the analysis, five (L)CNF- only production scenarios yield 50 t/ day (dry). Capital requirements vary based on whether (L)CNF production is co-located with pulp and/or repurposed an existing facility. The second stage of the analysis models (L)CNF costs at 170 t/ day (dry), to support 250,000 m3/ year of PB production. Capital requirements for the six PB scenarios vary based on whether PB production is co-located with (L)CNF production, and whether (L)CNF production occurs in a repurposed facility. We found that the cost

savings from using a repurposed facility were more than double the cost savings from using LCNF over the LCNF/ CNF mix. Minimum product selling price (MPSP) in the first analysis stage ranged from $477/ dry ton to $1,534/ dry ton, while MPSP in the second stage ranged from $453/ m^3 to $870 / m^3. Scaling (L)CNF production for PB manufacturing resulted in significant reductions to (L)CNF MPSP, as did sourcing electricity for (L)CNF production from the PB co-generation facility. This study shows that (L)CNF production is commercially viable, but that (L)CNF-bound PB requires significant technological advances to reduce MPSP. This study provides financial analysis for policy-makers and investors hoping to advance (L)CNF and engineered wood products at a time of high demand for natural building products. Chapter 2 investigates possible opportunities for consensus-building using survey data from the Katahdin Region, Maine. The region is primarily known for its abundance in forest-based manufacturing and recreation opportunities and is undergoing a major transition in its regional economy. We do this by applying the Sense of Place (SOP) framework to test the utility of SOP for understanding the development priorities. We identify the key similarities and differences in SOP between and within demographic groups that might lead to conflicts. Our results can be used to target outreach and facilitation activities to effectively build regional consensus, particularly with respect to targeting economic development. This approach presents a nuanced, yet intuitive picture of regional socioeconomic concerns with significant utility for development practitioners.

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