SUNY ESF
Facilities and Research
Facilities and Research
The Department of Chemical Engineering is located in Walters Hall, which is devoted to education and research in pulp, paper, bioproduct, bioenergy, and allied fields. In addition to a large number of special purpose laboratories and highly sophisticated scientific equipment, there is a pilot plant equipped with machinery and instrumentation for studies of pulping, pulp cleaning and screening, recycling, refining, and papermaking. Equipment includes two complete paper machines, one 48-inch and one 12-inch; two pressurized refiners for mechanical pulping; and auxiliary equipment.
An environmental engineering laboratory includes various methods of paper recycling and waste treatment.
A state-of-the-art laboratory for testing paper and other materials is in service. A modern bioprocess engineering lab includes fermenters, spectrophotometer, shakers, anaerobic chamber, incubators, autoclaves, bio- and chemical reactors.
Pilot facilities also include equipment for the biological treatment and the separation processes for production of specialized chemicals and polymers from wood, including a 400-liter fermenter, nanoseparation equipment, and incubators for the growth of ligninolytic organisms. This equipment, as well as the extensive chemical engineering laboratory, is employed for both education and research.
Computer hardware and software are continually updated for teaching and research in process control and simulation.
Labs, Institutes and Centers
C.J.K. Wang Wood Biodegradation Laboratory
The C.J.K. Wang Wood Biodegradation Laboratory includes mycology culturing facilities and a modern molecular analysis laboratory; research microscopes, image analysis system and wood microtechnique equipment.
N.C. Brown Center for Ultrastructure Studies
The Center for Ultrastructure Studies provides students, faculty and research staff with access, training and formal coursework in modern microscopy techniques including light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, digital imaging, and image analysis. The NC Brown Center is located on the second floor of Baker Lab.
Tropical Timber Information Center
One of the largest wood collections in the world, the H. P. Brown Memorial Wood Collection, is used to support the graduate research program of the Tropical Timber Information Center. The center also maintains the Carl deZeeuw Memorial Library.
Wood Utilization Service
The Wood Utilization Service is the oldest public service and demonstration effort of the College of Environmental Science and Forestry. It was established in 1913 to carry out activities which facilitate and encourage the most efficient processing, manufacture, marketing and use of wood, the premier renewable, sustainable, economical and environmentally beneficial construction, building, and manufacturing material. Services provided include advising, answering questions, consulting, testing, demonstrations and use of ESF's unique wood processing and testing facilities.
Wood Products Engineering Laboratory (WPEL)
The Wood Products Engineering Laboratory (WPEL) is certified by the International Accreditation Service (IAS). The WPEL houses a wide range of testing equipment , electronic data acquisition facilities, and wood processing facilities including a dry kiln, wood preservation equipment, a new wood machining laboratory, sawmill, and expanded facilities for building materials research for green construction.