PhD Effect of drying in a CO2 atmosphere on the structure and properties of wood

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

You will be working in the INRAE Biopolymers, Interactions and Assemblies unit (BIA, https://ur-bia.angers-nantes.hub.inrae.fr/) in the Nanostructured Assemblies team, which is conducting research into the use of plant biomass to meet the challenges of climate, food and environmental change and global health, and in wAys company (https://w-ays.com/), which has developed an innovative drying process in a CO2 atmosphere that significantly reduces drying times, thus cutting energy consumption, while greatly reducing deformation.

Wood is a renewable resource that is widely used in a variety of sectors, including construction, furniture and interior design. To be exploited and used, wood must undergo an artificial drying process to stabilise its structure and properties. However, drying can lead to defects, numerous deformations and a weakening of the mechanical properties of wood. In addition, current air-drying processes take a long time and consume a lot of energy. Finally, the wood industry has a material yield of between 40 and 50%, which is very low. The thesis project is structured around three main objectives. The first two are aimed at meeting operational challenges for the company: characterisation of wood dried in a CO₂ atmosphere and optimisation of the drying process. The third objective, which is more fundamental, concerns the study of wood drying mechanisms in the presence of CO₂, with the aim of developing longer-term strategies to support innovation within the company.

Objective 1- Characterisation of wood dried under CO₂: This objective will involve differentiating wood dried under a CO₂ atmosphere from that dried under air (or other processes). The methodology will be based on advanced techniques for characterising the ultrastructure, such as microscopy (optical and electronic), tomography and spectroscopic methods. In-depth analysis of the data obtained will be carried out using image analysis strategies.

Objective 2- Optimisation of drying operating conditions: This section will focus on defining the optimum process parameters for preserving the wood's ultrastructure. The parameters studied will include the composition of the drying atmosphere, temperature and other key process variables.

Objective 3- Study the mechanisms of drying under CO₂: The final objective will focus on the specific mechanisms of drying under a CO₂ atmosphere, in comparison with air drying. The aim is to understand the physical and chemical phenomena involved, in order to explain the mechanisms by which the ultrastructure is preserved and to lay the foundations for future improvements to the process.

Training and skills

Recommended training: Biophysic, plant biology

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter