FALUN, Sweden, April 18, 2008 (Press Release) - The Marcus Wallenberg Foundation proudly announces that the 2008 Marcus Wallenberg Prize is awarded to Prof. Bjarne Holmbom and Mr. Christer Eckerman, Åbo Akademi University, Åbo, Finland, for their breakthrough research and innovation creating a platform for large-scale separation, isolation, purification and applications of chemical components in wood.
The Laureates have created an understanding of the fundamental chemistry of spruce tree knots, i.e. the part of the branches that is embedded in the stem. They developed technical separation methods to extract tree knots from the pulping process and to isolate and purify chemicals from the tree knots, opening the field for many potential applications and uses. An example is hydroxymatairesinol (HMR) as a human dietary supplement. The selective removal of knots from the pulping process brings opportunities for additional benefits by reducing process disturbances, reducing the use of bleaching chemicals and energy, and allowing more consistent quality of the paper products to be produced.
By methodical research of the highest quality, the Laureates have significantly contributed to creating a platform for the forest products industry to improve and broaden its role and commercial prospects with a range of new products and implications e.g. for chemicals, energy, production efficiency and sustainability.
Background
Professor Holmbom has concentrated his research at the molecular level to gain understanding of the complex chemistry involved in paper making. His key expertise relates to versatile applications of wood chemistry, with special focus on wood extractives, and innovations based on interactions between chemistry and process. Professor Holmbom's special interest in recent years has been the rich source of lignans in tree knots and stemwood. The easily extracted lignans may be used as active components in e.g. functional foods and organic biocides.
Based on an original idea by Mr. Eckerman, a technical method for the separation of knots from oversized chips was developed and patented. The method is based on the known fact that oversized chips are rich in dense knot-containing wood. This chip fraction is ground to splinters which are dried and then sedimented in water; the knotwood material sinks and is collected. The floating normal stemwood can also be collected and used in the pulping operation.
Following the original discovery, Holmbom and co-workers have also further promoted lignans and other extractives present in various wood species in a large number of publications. A wider selection of spruce trees taken from various locations as well as pine and fir species have been analysed and the amounts of numerous compounds have been determined in knotwood and stemwood. Many of the extracts that have been isolated have also been tested for their antimicrobial activity. More recently, the possibility of using HMR as a base compound for the production of other valuable lignans has been explored.
Bjarne Holmbom and Christer Eckerman
Professor Bjarne Holmbom was born 1943. His research areas are wood and paper chemistry and his PhD thesis was presented 1978 at Åbo Akademi University. Since 1981 he has held different professorial chairs at this university, as well as several research positions financed by the Academy of Finland. Furthermore, Holmbom has been visiting professor in Canada, USA and France.
Mr. Christer Eckerman (M.Sc.), born 1948, is a senior researcher in the group of Holmbom. He has been actively involved in all parts of the awarded research. The developed industrial separation method, paving the way for a large-scale production of the chemical components in wood, originates from Eckerman.
Prize Ceremony and Symposium
The Prize will be presented by His Majesty, The King of Sweden, at a ceremony in Stockholm on 6 October, 2008. On 7 October, a symposium around the subject of the Prize-winning research and its impact on the forest and forest products industries will be arranged.
