Arthur J. Ragauskas Professor Office: IPST 578 Phone: 404-894-9701 Fax: 404-894-4778 E-mail Arthur J. Ragauskas More information on Biorefinery

B.Sc., 1980, University of Western Ontario; Ph.D., 1985, University of Western Ontario; Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Alberta, 1985-88; Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Colorado, 1986-87; NRC Research Associate, 1987-89

Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy, 2008; Fellow, International Academy of Wood Science, 2003; TAPPI, 2004

Research Interests

Our research program focuses on green chemistry of biopolymers including: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Through the use of green chemistry, biotechnology, and cold plasma, our research group is looking at new ways to synthesis novel biomaterials, biocomposites, and biofuels from nature's renewable biopolymers. An exciting aspect of this research is the development new nano-cellulose and hemicellulose based materials. Such innovative research approaches allow researchers to synthesis new biomaterials that could be used for smart-polymers, controlled release, and enhanced barrier properties for health care, packaging, and security applications. Our research program is also renowned for our fundamental oxidative chemistry and structural elucidation of polysaccharides and lignin. Students involved in these studies utilize our state-of-the-art NMR and MS facilities.

An active field of research that presents vast opportunities is the use of cellulose to develop new biocomposites. An example of this, is the biocomposites being prepared from polysaccharides and polylactic acid, a unique product that exhibits far greater performance than either material alone. This research involves a great deal of physical chemistry at the surface of differing materials including surface grafting reactions, polymer chemistry, and surface analysis employing ESCA, AFM, and SEM.

Another area of carbohydrate research lies in the creation of biofuels, which are being developed through the depolymerization of biomass. The substitution of imported hydrocarbons with bio-based fuels and chemicals offers a tremendous opportunity to develop new renewable green chemistry processes that exhibit substantially improved environmental performance properties and net reductions in CO2 emissions. Currently, we are examining unique catalytic chemistries and biotechnologies (i.e., laccase, peroxidase, endoglucanase) in ionic liquids that will convert lignocellulosics into valuable biofuels. Student research is conducted in a multidisciplinary environment with several projects involving collaborative efforts with other groups on campus, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Art Ragauskas has supervised the graduate work of twenty Master's students and eighteen Doctoral students; of these several have received awards, including the American Chemical Society Graduate Student award.

Recent Publications

"Production of ethanol from carbohydrates from loblolly pine: A technical and economic assessment," W. J. Frederick Jr., S. J. Lien, C. E. Courchene, N. A. DeMartini, A. J. Ragauskas, K. Iisa, Bioresource Technology, 2008, 99, 5051-5057.

"Enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of spruce by alkaline pretreatment at low temperature," Yulin Zhao, Ying Wang, J. Y. Zhu, Art Ragauskas, Yulin Deng, Biotech. Bioengrg., 2008, 99, 1320-1328.

"Methods and compositions for papermaking," Deng, Yulin; Yoon, Se Young; Ragauskas, Arthur; White, David. U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. (2008), CODEN: USXXCO US 2008087396 A1 20080417 AN 2008:472832

"The new forestry biofuels sector," Pu, Y.; Zhang, D.; Singh, P.; Ragauskas, A.J., Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, 2008, 2, 58-73.

"Cascade synthesis of benzofuran derivatives via laccase oxidation-Michael addition," Suteera Witayakran, Leslie Gelbaum, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Tetrahedron, 2007, 63, 10958-10962.

"Selective aerobic oxidation of activates alcohols into acids or aldehydes in ionic liquids," Nan Jiang, Arthur J. Ragauskas, J. Org. Chem., 2007, 72, 7030-7033.

"Polymer clay self-assembly complexes on paper," Runqing Ou, Jianguo Zhang, Yulin Deng, Arthur J. Ragauskas, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2007, 102, DOI: 10.1002/app.

"Imaging celulose fibre interfaces with fluorescence microscopy and resonance energy transfer," Cameron I. Thomson, Robert M. Lowe, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Carbohydrate Polym., 2007, 69, 799-804.

"One-pot synthesis of 1,4-naphthoquinones and related structures with laccase," Suteera Witayakran, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Green Chemistry, 2007, 9, 475-480.

"Effect of photolysis on 17th/18th century paper," Kristina Knutson, Yunqiao Pu, Thomas Elder, Gisela B. Buschle-Diller, Rallming Yang, Cameron Thomson, Dong Ho Kim, Zheng
Dang, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Holzforschung, 2007, 61, 131–137, DOI 10.1515/HF.2007.024.

"Laccase-generated quinones in naphthoquinone synthesis via Diels-Alder reaction," Witayakran, S.; Zettili, A.; Ragauskas, A.J. Tetrahedron Letters, 2007, 48(17), 2983-2987.

"Facile synthesis of spherical cellulose nanoparticles," Zhang, Jianguo; Elder, Thomas J.; Pu, Yunqiao; Ragauskas, Arthur J., Carbohydrate Polymers, 2007, 69(3), 607-611.

"Laccase-generated quinones in naphthoquinone synthesis via Diels-Alder reaction," Witayakran, S.; Zettili, A.; Ragauskas, A.J. Tetrahedron Letters, 2007, 48(17), 2983-2987.

"Lignocellulosic fiber charge enhancement by catalytic oxidation during oxygen delignification,". Zhang, D.; Chai, X.-S.; Pu, Y.; Ragauskas, A.J. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2007, 306(2), 248-254.

"Vanadium-catalyzed selective aerobic alcohol oxidation in ionic liquid [bmim]PF₆," Nan, J.; Ragauskas, A.J. Tetrahedron Letters, 2007, 48, 273 - 276.

"Measuring the efficiency of biomass energy reply," Davison, Brian H.; Ragauskas, Arthur J.; Templer, Richard; Tschaplinski, Timothy J.; Melenz, Jonathan R. Science, 2006, 312(5781), 1744.

"Copper(II)-Catalyzed Selective Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols under Mild Conditions," Jiang, N.; Ragauskas, A.J., Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2006, 71(18), 7087-7090.

"Study of thioglycosylation in ionic liquids," Zhang, J.; Ragauskas, A. Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2006, 2(12) (27Jun 2006).

"Environmentally friendly synthesis of biaryls: Suzuki reaction of aryl bromides in water at low catalyst loading," Jiang, N.; Ragauskas, A. J., Tetrahedron Letters, 2006, 197-200.

"CP/MAS 13C NMR analysis of cellulase treated bleached softwood kraft pulp," Pu, Yunqiao; Ziemer, Cherie; Ragauskas, A.J., Carbohydrate Research, 2006, 341(5), 591-597.

"Surface modification of cellulosic fibers using dielectric-barrier discharge," Vander Wielen, L.C.; Ostenson, M.; Gatenholm, P.; Ragauskas, A.J., Carbohydrate Polymers, 2006, 65, 179-184.

"From wood to fuels: Integrating biofuels and pulp production," Ragauskas, A.J., Nagy, M.; Kim, D.H.; Eckert, C.A.; Liotta, C.L., Industrial Biotechnology, 2006, 2(1), 55-65.

"Influence of kraft pulping on carboxylate content of coftwood kraft pulps," Dang, Z.J.; Elder, T.; Ragauskas, A. J., Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2006, 45(13), 4509-4516.

"Characterization of lignocellulosic-polylactic acid reinforced composites," Hou, Q., Chai, R.; Yang, R.; Elder, T.; Ragauskas, A.J., Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2006, 99, 1346-1349.

"The path forward for biofuels and biomaterials," Ragauskas, Arthur J.; Williams, Charlotte K.; Davison, Brian H.; Britovsek, George; Cairney, John; Eckert, Charles A.; Frederick, William J., Jr.; Hallett, Jason P.; Leak, David J.; Liotta, Charles L.; Mielenz, Jonathan R.; Murphy, Richard; Templer, Richard; Tschaplinski, Timothy. Science, 2006, 311(5760), 484-489. Abstract, Full Text

"Synthesis of benzylidenated hexopyranosides in ionic liquids," Zhang, J.; Ragauskas, A.J., Carb. Res., 2005, 340, 2812-2815.

"Mechanism of dielectric-barrier discharge initiated wet-strength development," Vander Wielen, L. C.; Ostenson, M.; Gatenholm, P.; Ragauskas, A. J., Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2005, 98(5), 2219-2225.

"Enzymatic biobleaching of two recalcitrant paper dyes with horseradish and soybean peroxidase," Knutson, Kristina; Kirzan, Sylva; Ragauskas, Arthur, Biotechnology Letters, 2005, 27(11), 753-758.

"Copper(II)-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes in ionic liquid [bmpy]PF6," Jiang, Nan; Ragauskas, Arthur J., Organic Letters, 2005, 7(17), 3689-3692.

"TEMPO-catalyzed oxidation of benzylic alcohols to aldehydes with the H₂O₂/HBr/ionic liquid [bmim]PF6 system," J. Nan, A. J. Ragauskas, Tetrahedron Letts., 2005, 46(19), 3323-3326.

"Analysis of the topochemical effects of dielectric-barrier discharge on cellulosic fibers," Lorraine C. Vander Wielen, Thomas Elder, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Cellulose, 2005, 12(2), 185-196.

"Investigation of the Photo-oxidative Chemistry of Acetylated Softwood Lignin," Y. Pu, A. J. Ragauskas, J. Photochem. Photobio. A: Chemistry, 2004, 163/1-2, 215.

"Biobleaching Chemistry of Laccase-mediator Systems on High Lignin Content Kraft Pulps," F. S. Chakar, A. J. Ragauskas, Canadian J. Chem., 2004, 82, 3.

"Grafting of Acrylamide onto Lignocellulosic Fibers via Dielectric-barrier Discharge," L. Vander Wielen, A. J. Ragauskas, Eur. Polym. J.., 2004, 40(3), 477.

"Modification of High Lignin Content Kraft Pulps with Laccase to Improve Paper Strength Properties. 1. Laccase Treatment in the Presence of Gallic Acid," R. P. Chandra, L. K. Lehtonen, A. J. Ragauskas, Biotech. Progr., 2004, 20(1), 255.

"Fundamentals of Photobleaching Lignin. Part 1: Photobehaviors of Acetylated Softwood BCTMP Lignin," Y. Pu, L. Anderson, L. Lucia, L., A. J. Ragauskas, J. Pulp Paper Sci., 2003, 29(12), 401.

"Oxygen Delignification Chemistry and Its Impact on Pulp Fibers," R. Yang, L. Lucia, A. Ragauskas, H. Jameel, J. Wood Chem. Technol., 2003, 23(1), 13.

"Comparative Evaluation of Oxygen Delignification Processess for Low- and High-Lignin-Content Softwood Kraft Pulps." L. Lucia, A. J. Ragauskas, F. Chakar, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2002, 41, 5171.

"Oxygen Degradation and Spectroscopic Characterization of Hardwood Kraft Lignin," R. Yang, L. Lucia, A. Ragauskas, H. Jameel, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2002, 41(24), 5941-5948.

"Evaluating Laccase-Facilitated Coupling of Phenolic Acids to High-Yield Kraft Pulps," R. P. Chandra, A. J. Ragauskas, Enzyme Microbial Techn., 2002, 30(7), 855-861.

"Delving into the Fundamental LMS Delignification of High-Kappa Pulps," R. P. Chandra, F. S. Chakar, A. Allison, D. H. Kim, A. J. Ragauskas, T. J. Elder, Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, 2002, 151-164.

"Enzymatic Modification of Kraft Lignin Through Oxidative Coupling with Water-Soluble Phenols," M. Lund, A. J. Ragauskas, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 2001, 55, 699.