Forestry

New Zealand School of Forestry

Dr Clemens Altaner

PositionClemens Altaner

Lecturer

Qualifications

Diplom Holzwirtschaft (Hons) (Hamburg)
PhD (Hamburg)

Room

Forestry 121

Contact Details

Phone: +64 3 364 2807
Clemens.Altaner@canterbury.ac.nz

Postal Address

School of Forestry
College of Engineering
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
New Zealand

Deutsch

Background

I am a wood scientist with expertise in the chain of wood utilisation, including the variability of wood properties, solid timber processing, wood preservation/modification, manufacturing of wood composites and pulp and paper production. This experience informs my teaching in the Wood Science course.

My research in recent years has focused on the molecular and micro-structural origin of the exceptional mechanical properties of wood, which is as strong as steel when density is considered.

Research in the School of Forestry

Undergraduate Courses

Research Interests

  • Variability of wood properties
  • Mechanical wood properties at the molecular level
  • Natural durability of wood
  • Developing non-destructive wood quality assessment tools
  • The structure and function of compression and tension wood
  • The supramolecular structure of cellulose microfibrils
  • see also the University's SPARK database

Research Opportunities

  • Automated wood species identification (NIR)
  • Cell wall proteins (isolation/function)
  • Detecting preservatives in timber
  • Evaluating the value of radiata pine logs for structural sawmills
  • Finite element modelling (FEM) of wood
  • Growing wood in cell culture
  • Natural durability of eucalypts
  • Phylogeny and cell wall polysaccharides
  • Reducing resin defects in pine (breeding/screening tools)
  • The molecular origin of growth stresses
  • What makes wood tough?

See also research opportunities at the School of Forestry

Recent Publications


Altaner, C.M.,Takareva, E.N., Jarvis, M.C., Harris, P.J. (2010). Distribution of (1->4)-{beta}-galactans, arabinogalactan proteins, xylans and (1->3)-{beta}-glucans in tracheid cell walls of softwoods. Tree Physiology, 30:782-793

Altaner, C. M., Jarvis, M. C., Fisher, J.B., Marler, T.E . 2010. Molecular xylem wall structure of an inclined Cycas micronesica stem, a tropical gymnosperm. IAWA Journal, 31:3-11

Leonardon, M., Altaner, C.M., Vihermaa, L., Jarvis, M.C. (2010). Wood shrinkage: influence of anatomy, cell wall architecture, chemical composition and cambial age. European Journal of Wood and Wood Products. DOI: 10.1007/s00107-009-0355-8. 68:87-94

Gregorova, A., Hrabalova, M., Wimmer, R., Saake, B., Altaner, C. (2009). Poly(lactide acid) composites reinforced with fibers obtained from different tissue types of Picea sitchensis. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 114:2616 - 2623

Altaner, C. M., Tokareva, E. N., Wong, J., Hapca, A. I., McLean, J. P., Jarvis, M. C. (2009). Measuring compression wood severity in spruce. Wood Science and Technology, 43:279-290

Altaner, C. M. and Jarvis, M. C. (2008). Modelling polymer interactions of the 'molecular Velcro' type in wood under mechanical stress. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 253:434-445

Kennedy, C. J., Cameron, G.J ., Šturcová, A., Apperley, D. C., Altaner, C., Wess, T. J., Jarvis, M. C. (2007). Microfibril diameter in celery collenchyma cellulose: X-ray scattering and NMR evidence. Cellulose. 14:235-246

Altaner, C., Knox, J. P., Jarvis, M. C. (2007). In situ detection of cell wall polysaccharides in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière) wood tissue. BioResources. 2:284-295

Altaner, C., Hapca, A., Knox, P., Jarvis, M. C. (2007). Antibody labelling of galactan in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière). Holzforschung. 61:311-316

Altaner C., Apperley D. C., Jarvis, M. C. (2006). Spatial relationships between polymers in Sitka spruce: Proton spin-diffusion studies. Holzforschung 60, 665-673

Saake B., Altaner C., Lee S-. J., Puls J. (2005). Endoglucanase degradation and enzyme-aided characterization of cellulose acetates. Macromolecular Symposia 223, 137-150

Puls, J., Altaner, C., Saake, B. (2004). Degradation and Modification of Cellulose Acetates by Biological Systems. Macromolecular Symposia 208, 239-253

Altaner, C., Puls, J., Saake, B. (2003). Enzyme aided analysis of the substituent distribution along the chain of cellulose acetates regioselectively modified by the action of acetyl esterases. Cellulose 10, 391-395

Lee, S-. J., Altaner, C., Puls, J., Saake, B. (2003). Determination of the substituent distribution along cellulose acetate chains as revealed by enzymatic and chemical methods. Carbohydrate Polymers 54, 353-362

Altaner, C., Saake, B., Tenkanen, M., Eyzaguirre, J., Faulds, C. B., Biely, P., Viikari, L., Siika-aho, M., Puls, J. (2003). Regioselective deacetylation of cellulose acetates by acetyl xylan esterases of different CE-families. Journal of Biotechnology 105(1-2), 95-104

Altaner, C., Saake, B., Puls, J. (2003). Specificity of an Aspergillus niger esterase deacetylating cellulose acetate. Cellulose 10, 85-95

Altaner, C., Saake, B., Puls, J. (2001). Mode of action of acetyl esterases associated with endoglucanases towards water-soluble and -insoluble cellulose acetates. Cellulose 8(4), 259-265