Michael Altgen
Research Scientist
Biography
I am a wood material scientist working with different wood-based products. My main interest is the relationship between the chemical and structural characteristics of wood and their link to function and performance.
I obtained a doctoral degree in Wood Biology and Wood Technology from the University of Göttingen (Germany) in 2016. Since then, I had academic positions at Aalto University (Finland) and the University of Hamburg (Germany) before joining NIBIO in 2023.
Abstract
This study (1) determined the differences between the dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) behavior of wood subjected to light (H2O) and heavy water (D2O) vapors at matching equivalent relative humidities (RHs) and (2) developed an in-situ method for studying the transmission-mode Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of wood subjected to increasing RHs. The D2O-subjected wood was pre-deuterated so that the hydrogen bonding of the native wood with H2O was compared with the deuterium bonding that occurs with D2O for the DVS and FTIR studies. Fibrous Scots pine sapwood particles were used for the DVS experiments, whereas FTIR spectroscopy involved Scots pine sapwood earlywood microscopic sections placed inside a small RH chamber. The sorption isotherms and hysteresis plots of H2O and D2O showed statistically non-significant differences between the solvent vapors. However, larger practical differences were observed at higher RHs, with the H2O sorption isotherms having higher “equilibrium” moisture contents. The Gibbs free energies of sorption and desorption at equilibrium, as determined from the DVS data, showed statistically significant differences, suggesting that deuterium bonding is more thermodynamically favorable. The sorption and desorption rates obtained from the DVS samples generally indicate that H2O vapor subjection progresses initially at faster rates per RH level, without significantly affecting the total experimental time. The accessibility of the hydroxy groups increased somewhat with D2O between the before- and after-isotherm scenarios. In the FTIR spectra, H2O addition led to higher peak intensities and broader hydroxy band widths due to increased RH. The FTIR spectra for the D2O case had a decrease in the hydroxy band area, particularly in the width parameter, while the intensity and width of the formed deuteroxy peak grew as RH increased. The FTIR spectra also provided evidence of a successful hydrogen-versus-deuterium bonding comparison for the DVS study, as the intensities and band widths reverted to their original states after drying using a water-vapor-subjection method like that used in the DVS. Finally, it is hypothesized that deuterated wood is less hygroscopic than native wood, despite the thermodynamic favorability of deuterium bonding.
Abstract
Hva slags materialer finner vi på gjenvinningsstasjoner rundt om i landet og hvor mye av det kan brukes på nytt? Dette spørsmålet stilte forskerne i CircWood seg da prosjektet startet i 2022.
Abstract
Wood has many attractive material qualities, but it is susceptible to biological degradation by wood-decaying fungi. Moisture is one of the critical requirements for wood decay, but much remains unknown about moisture dynamics in decaying wood. To fill this knowledge gap, this study investigated moisture in Scots pine sapwood during decay caused by the brown rot fungus Coniophora puteana. Samples were exposed to decay in two time-series experiments; mass loss and moisture content were recorded over the course of decay, and the bound and free water populations in the samples were analysed using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LFNMR) relaxometry in both the decaying state and at full water saturation. Selected samples were also used for water vapour sorption measurements. The time-series decay tests showed that moisture content initially increased due to fungal activity but decreased over time when corrected for mass loss, contrary to the general belief that moisture content increases with decay. LFNMR revealed that bound water content increased on a decayed-mass basis in the decaying state and at saturation, but no increase was seen after correction for mass loss. Free water content followed gravimetric moisture content in the decaying state, but the saturated state measurements revealed an initial increase and subsequent decrease with mass loss. Degradation caused changes in hygroscopicity, but our data show that overall moisture content is regulated by fungal activity rather than by material properties. These findings highlight the complexity of water interactions during fungal degradation, offering valuable new insights into wood degradation mechanisms.
