Faculty — Donatien Pascal Kamdem

Professor, Wood Science

PhD, Wood Science, 1990, Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada;
MBA, 1987, Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada;
MS pulp and paper Engineering, 1986, UQTR, Quebec, Canada;
MS and BS Chemistry 1979, Universite de Yaounde, Cameroon

Contact Information

210A Natural Resources
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 355-7735
Fax: (517) 432-1143
Email: kamdem@msu.edu

Professional Positions

• Jan 1998-Current: Associate Professor, Wood Science and Technolog
• July 1995-Jan 1998: Assistant Professor, Wood Science and Technology; teaching
  and research appointment. Department of Forestry, Michigan State University
• 1991 to July 1995: Visiting Assistant Professor, Wood Science and Technology,
  teaching and research: Department of Forestry, Michigan State University.
• 1990 to 1991: Research Associate, State University of New York at Syracuse, College
  of Environmental Science and Forestry, Department of Paper Science. Research in
  the area of wood surface energy characterization.
• 1987 to 1990: Instructor, Taught Management and wood chemistry as a chief instructor, undergraduate courses at Laval University, Sainte Foy, Quebec, Canada.
• 1983 to 1986: Research Assistant (Multilayer Lineboard and Wood polymer grafting):
  Research Center of Pulp and Paper (CRPP) University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres,
  Quebec, Canada.
• 1979 to 1983: Assistant manager, SOCAPALM ( Societe Camerounaise de Palmeraie)
  Palm Oil Plant, Cameroon.
• 1979: Laboratory Assistant: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Yaounde University,
  Cameroon.

Professional Societies Membership

• American Chemical Society (ACS): Cellulose, Paper, and Textiles Division
• Forest Product Society (FPS)
• Vice Chair Technical Interest Group (Wood Chemistry)
• American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA)
• Member of T1, T2, T8, P6, P5, P4, P1 and N Technical Committees since 1995
• Vice Chair of T8 subcommittee (Protection of Wood Composites) 1996-1999
• Chair T8 subcommittee (Protection of Wood composites) 2000-
• Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST)
• Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI)
• Member of Michigan Timber Bridges Steering Committee
• International Research Group on Wood Preservatives:
• Chairman Working Party 5.3 (Environmental Issues and Waste Management) 1997-1998
• Chairman Working Party 4.5 ( Wood composites)
• South Africa Wood Preservers Association ( SAWPA)

Scholarship Awards

• 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990: Excellency Award from the Quebec Government, Canada Graduate Scholarship-Awar
• Georges Marra Award 2001: best scientific paper published in the journal of Wood fiber science in 2000: Interaction of copper-amine with southern pine: Retention and Migration. Wood and Finer science 32(3):332-339.

Teaching (30%)

• Wood Technology and Utilization for undergraduate: wood identification, protection, drying, physics and mechanics, chemistry, transformation, composites, and pulp and paper: FOR 304 in Fall 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997.
• Advanced Wood Technology: Wood physics and mechanics, protection of building and wood products against decay, mechanism of fixation of preservatives in wood, recycling of wood into useful products: FOR 809 in Spring 1996 and 1998.
• Independent studies: Manufacture and testing of wood composites (particleboard, fiberboard, and plywood), Weathering, Finishing, Pressure treatment of hardwoods, and Wood identification.
  FOR 490.

Research (70%)

• Wood deterioration and protection (decay, insects, fire, stability)
• Protection of wood products and engineered wood products using preservatives
• Recycling of waste wood including urban wood from demolition, construction, poles
• Specialty chemicals from trees
• Weathering of wood products (finishing, water repellents,)
• Chemistry of the interaction/fixation of wood preservatives and wood
• July 1992-Current: A Co-principal investigator; USDA CSREES Eastern Hardwood Utilization Research Program: $750,000 since 1992.

Reviewer for Wood Science and Technology Scientific Media

Supervised and trained undergraduate students in wood products:

1. Manufacture of wood composites (particleboard, fiberboard, hardboard)
2. Samples preparation for laboratory and field testing of wood decay/insect resistance
3. Chemical analysis of preservatives in wood
4. Production of veneer from short logs
5. Pressure treatment of wood to increase the stability
6. Wood identification
7. Data collection

Forestry students: Scott Dickerson, Dave Anaman, Brian Cornelius, Bonnie Grant, Rebecca Williams, Curt Norberg, Jacob Munson, Steve Smith, Renae Essenmacher, Rebecca Jennings
Aland Hoermann, Jayson Vanlandeghem, Robert Paradise

Other Department students: Jonetta Pittman, Reboykin Fair, Latoya White, Ambe Neba,
Daniel Araujo, Andy Miller, Justin Zyskowski, Georges Dimithe, Peter Achongei,
An Gong, Radu Craciun, Liliana Craciun

Graduate Student Activity

Currently major advisor for:

• Cui Weining (Ph.D.)
• Pascal Nzokou (Ph.D.)
• Ijun Tang (Ph D)
• Haihong (Ph D)
• Xue Xue (M.S.)
• Jayson Vanlandeghem (M.S.)

Past major Advisor (Dept. of Forestry):

• Jacob Munson. 1995-1997 M.S. awarded in December 1997.
• Jun Zhang (Ph.D.), Ph. D. awarded in June 1999
• Ismail Jusoh (Ph. D.) awarded in May 2000
• Cui Weining (M.S.) M.S. awarded in December 1999
• Jay Chang. 1991-1993 (Ph. D.) Withdrew from program in 1994.

Departmental Activity

• Advisory Committee: since September 1998
• Faculty Secretary: 1995-1997
• Undergraduate committee: 1995-current. Chair 1997-1998
• Represent the Department at the CANR Advisory Committee: 1997-1998
• Safety Officer: 1995-current

Experience as Witness Expert with Depositions

1. Consumers Lumber Co. vs EC George Construction, L.L.C. et al. 1999. Stain on wood joists in a home located in Howell, Michigan . Austin Hirschhorn, P.C., Attorney and Councellor. Suite 710 Columbia Center, Troy, Michigan 48084-4152. Settled.
2. Premature failure of utility poles. 1998. Law office of BRYAN P. WINTER, PHELPS, JENKINS, GIBSON & FOWLER TUSCALOOSA, AL. City of Cleveland vs Cahaba. Cahaba vs OMG Cahaba vs Thomasson Lumber Company. Pending. July 17, 2000. Depositions. Pending.
3. Collapse of wood deck resulting in a severe arm broken. Law office of Mark S. Goldberg, 21800 West Ten Mile Road, Suite 104. Southfield, Michgan, 48075. Nicol v. Tassie et al. Roger Burton. Settled.
4. Rabb vs Detroit Edison Co. Corporate injury due to failure of decayed creosote treated-cedar poles in Detroit. Law offices of L.Roger Webb, P.C., 1805 Ford Building, 615 Griswold, Detroit, Michigan, 48226. Settled.
5. Termites damage at the Esquibel's house. (Confidential) Law offices of Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge, East Lansing, Michigan. Settled.
6. Failure of wooden scaffolding resulting in a sustained leg injury. Law offices of Gruel Mills Nims and Pylman llp. 50 Monroe Place, Suite 700 West, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503. Depositions. Settled.
7. Mold in rental house. John Abbot Law Office. February 2000. Ingham County Court House. Depositions and Court Appearance. Mason, Michigan.
8. Failure of wood truss due to decay. Bergeron v Luneack et al. May 2000. Collison, Collison & Zimostrad, PC., Attorney at Law. 5811 Colony Drive, North. P. O. Box 6010, Saginaw, MI, 48608.

Consultant Expert

1. Laboratory and field evaluation of Copper naphthenate, CCA, ACQ as wood preservatives for hardwood species. ISK Biosciences. Memphis TNN
2. Chemistry of Copper dimethyl dithiocarbamate preservatives for softwood and hardwood. ISK Biocides. Memphis TNN
3. Treatability of hardwood with ACQ (penetration, retention and migration); an industrial trial. CSI Laporte, Charlotte NC.
4. Borates and copper based formulation. Osmose (Buffalo NY) and ISK Biosciences.
5. Chemistry of copper amine based preservatives. Merichem, Houston Tx.
6. Identification of mold growing on CCA treated wood. Universal Forest Products. Grand rapids, Michigan.
7. Evaluation of fipronil as an insecticide for wood product and wood composites. Aventis, Frankfurt, Germany.
8. Evaluation of silicone based product as water repellent for wood products. Wacker, Adrian, Michigan.
9. Heat treatment as a physical means to increase decay resistance. S A NOW France.
10. Wood Plastic composites. Certainteed. Jackson Michigan.
11. Mechanical properties of OSB: effect of fines. APA.
12. Laboratory and field evaluation of new formulation of wood preservatives. Confidential.
13. Recycling of wood saw dust into useful products. Confidential.
14. Identification of wood species.
15. Valorization of agricultural and forest residues into useful and value added products in Africa and China. UNESCO, FAO and World Bank.
16. Surface characterization of CCA treated lumber products

Publications (Peer reviewed)

1. B.V. Kokta, D.P. Kamdem, A.D. Beshay and C. Daneault, "Use of Wood Fibers in Thermoplastic Composites," in Sedlacek (ed.), Polymer Composites, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 1986, p. 251
2. Z. Koran and D.P. Kamdem, "The Bending Stiffness of Paperboard," Tappi 2(6):175?179 (1989)
3. A.O. Barry, D.P. Kamdem, B. Riedl and S.C. Kaliaguine, "Infrared Study of CTMP Grafted Fibers," J. Wood Chem. Technol. 9(3):341 (1989)
4. Z. Koran and D.P. Kamdem, "Multilayered Paperboard from Kraft and TMP," Tappi 73(2):153?158 (1990)
5. B. Riedl and D.P. Kamdem, "Some Aspects of Chemistry Teaching and Research in
   Wood Science," Journal of Chemical Education 67(7):543 (1990)
6. D.P. Kamdem, B. Riedl, S.C. Kaliaguine and A. Adnot, "ESCA Spectroscopy of Poly(methylmetacrylate) Grafted onto Wood fibers," J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 43:1901 (1991)
7. D.P. Kamdem and B. Riedl, "Inverse Phase Gas Chromatography of Poly (methylmetacrylate) Grafted onto Wood Fibers", J. Wood Chem. Technol. 11:57 (1991)
8. D.P. Kamdem and B. Riedl, "Characterization of Wood Fibers Modified by Phenol Formaldehyde," Colloid and Polymer Science 269:595 (1991)
9. D.P. Kamdem and B. Riedl, "IGC of Lignocellulosic Fibers Coated with a Thermosetting Polymer: Use of Peak Maximum and Conder Young Methods," J. of Colloid & Interface 150(2):507?516 (1992)
10. B. Riedl and D.P. Kamdem, "Estimation of the Dispersive Component of Surface Energy of Polymer Grafted Lignocellulosic Fibers by IGC," J. of Adhesion Science and Technology 6(9):1053?1067 (1992)
11. D.P. Kamdem, J.W. Hanover and D.A. Gage, "Contribution to the Study of the Essential Oil of Thuja occidentalis L.," J. of Essential Oil Res. 5:117-122 (1993)
12. D.P. Kamdem and J.W. Hanover, "Inter?tree Variation of Essential Oil Composition of Thuja occidentalis L.," J. of Essential Oil Research 5:279-282 (1993)
13. D.P. Kamdem, S.K. Bose and P. Luner, "IGC Characterization of Birch Wood Meal," Langmuir 9(11):3039-3044 (1993).
14. D.P. Kamdem and S.T. Sean, "The Durability of Phenolic Bonded Particleboard Made of Decay-Resistant Black Locust and Non-Durable Aspen," Forest Products J. 44(2):65-68 (1994).
15. D.P. Kamdem, "Fungal Decay Resistance of Aspen Blocks Treated with Heartwood Extracts," Forest Products J. 44(1):30-32 (1994).
16. D.P. Kamdem, K. Gruber, T. Barkman and D.A. Gage, "Characterization of Black
    Locust Floral Fragrance," J. Essent. Oil Res. 6:199-200 (1994).
17. D.P. Kamdem and M. Freeman, "Cunapsol Preservative for Hardwoods," Treated Wood
    Products and Processes, Technical Newsletter Series of Forest Products Society 8(2):2-3 (1994).
18. D.P. Kamdem, R.C. Francis and M.J. Sabourin, A Black Locust, a Potential Fiber Source for the Pulp and Paper Industry,@ Cellulose Chem. Technol. 29:181-189 (1995).
19. D.P. Kamdem, K. Gruber, M. Freeman, ALaboratory Evaluation of the Decay Resistance of Red Oak (Quercus rubra) Pressure Treated with Copper Naphthenate,@ Forest Prod. J. 45(9):74-76 (1995).
20. D.P. Kamdem, L. Murdoch, M. Freeman and P. Chow, APressure Treatment of Hardwoods@in Wood Preservation in the 90's and Beyond, Forest Products Society, pp. 89-94 (1995).
21. D.P. Kamdem and D.A. Gage, AChemical Composition of Oil from the Root Bark of
    Sassafras albidum,@ Planta Medica 61:574-575 (1995).
22. S. Hiziroglu and D.P. Kamdem, AMechanical and Physical Properties of Hardboard Made
    of Black Locust Furnish,@ Forest Prod. J. 45(11/12):66-70 (1995).
23. D.P. Kamdem, R. Fair and M. Freeman, AEfficacy of Waterborne Emulsion of Copper Naphthenate as Preservative for Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) and Soft Maple (Acer rubrum), Holz als Roh-und Werkstoff 54:183-187 (1996).
24. D.P. Kamdem and J. Munson, AReconstituted particleboard made of CCA-C Treated Utility Poles.@ Proceedings American Wood Preservers= Association, 92:27-39 (1996).
25. J.-H. Pinto and D.P. Kamdem, AComparison of Pretreatment Methods on the Enzymatic Saccharification of Aspen Wood,@ Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 60:289-297 (1996).
26. P. Cooper, T. Ung and D.P. Kamdem, AFixation and Leaching of Red Maple (Acer
    rubrum L.) Treated with CCA-C, Forest Products J. 47(2):70-74 (1997).
27. R. Craciun and D.P. Kamdem, AXPS and FTIR Applied to the Study of Waterborne Copper Naphthenate Wood Preservatives,@ Holzforschung 51(3):207-213 (1997).
28. R. Craciun, D.P. Kamdem and C. McIntyre, ACharacterization of Copper Dimethyldithiocarbamate (CDDC) Treated Wood with ESEM and Other Spectroscopic Techniques, Holzforschung 51(6):519-525 (1997).
29. D.P. Kamdem and C. McIntyre. 1998. AChemical investigation of 23 year old Copper
    Dimethyldithiocarbamate (CDDC) Treated southern pine.
    Wood and Fiber Sci. 30(1):64-71
30. D.P. Kamdem and C. McIntyre, Laboratory evaluation of CDDC as a wood preservative for red oak (Quercus rubra) and red maple (Acer rubrum).
    Holz als Roh-und Werkstoff in press (1999).
31. J. Munson and D. P. Kamdem, Reconstituted particleboard from CCA treated red pine utility poles. Forest Products J. 48(3):55-62 (1998).
32. P. Loconto, Y. Pan and D.P. Kamdem, Analysis of 2-amino ethanol via LLE and GC-MS
    Journal of chromatographic science 36(6):299-305(1998)
33. D. P. Kamdem, J. Zhang, and M. Freeman. 1998. The effect of post-steaming on copper naphthenate treated southern pine. Wood and Fiber Sci. 30(2):210-217 (1998).
34. D. C. Maldas and D. P. Kamdem. Surface characterization of CCA treated red maple. J. Adhesion Sci.Technol.,12(7):763-772 (1998).
35. D. P. Kamdem, J. H. Hart, and E. Behr. 1998. Field performance of CCA type C non
    pressure treated northern white cedar ( Thuja occidentalis L.) Forest Prod. J. 48(2):49-51
36. B. E. Dawson-Andoh and D.P. Kamdem. 1998. Microanalytical studies of the macrodistribution of copper in copper naphthenate treated hardwood species using an environmental scanning microscope. Holzforschung 52,6.
37. J. Zyskowski and D. P. Kamdem.1999. UV-Vis spectrophotometer of copper naphthenate treating solution. Wood and Fiber science 31 (4): 441-446.
38. Wanli Ma, D. P. Kamdem, P. Loconto, Y.Pan, D. Gage, B.E.D. Andoh. 1999. Characterization and bioremediation of Birch condensate. Wood and Fiber Science, 31(4): 370-375.
39. Zhang, J. and D. P. Kamdem. 1999. X-ray diffraction as an analytical method in wood preservatives. Holzforschung 54 (1): 27-32
40. Zhang, J. and D. P. Kamdem. 1999. FTIR characterization of copper ethanolamine -wood interaction for wood preservation. Holzforschung 54 (2): 119-122
41. S. Grelier, A. Castellan and D.P. Kamdem. 2000. Photo-protection of copper amine -treated wood. Wood and fiber science 32 (2): 196-202
42. Zhang, J. and D. P. Kamdem. 2000. Interaction of copper-amine with southern pine: Retention and Migration. In press. Wood and Fiber Science 32(3):332-339.
43. Zhang, J. and D. P. Kamdem. 2000. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic (EPR) study of copper amine treated southern pine. In press. Holzforschung 54(4): 343-348
44. B.E. Dawson, R. Lovell and D. P. Kamdem. 2000. Inhibitory and compatibility of essential oils on sapstain and biological control fungi. J.Essent. Oil Res., 12:505-515
45. Jusoh, I and D.P. Kamdem. 2000. Penetration and retention of CCA in rubberwood. Journal of Tropical Forest Products 6(1):77-84
46. Weining Cui and D. Pascal Kamdem. 2000. Wood Products and Wood Protection in China. Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff 58(5):387-391
47. Kamdem D.P. and J. Zhang. 2001. Identification of cupric and cuprous copper in CN- treated solid wood by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Holzforschung 55(1):16-20
48. D.P. Kamdem, A. Pizzi and M.C. Triboulot. 2000. Heat-treated timber: potential toxic byproducts presence and extent of wood cell wall degradation. Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff 58(4):253-257
49. Matuana L., D.P. Kamdem and J. Zhang. 2001. Photoageing and stabilization of rigid PVC/wood- fiber composites. Journal of Applied Polymer science 80,1943.
50. Francis R., D.L. Hansch, S.G. Granzone, H.D. Markkonen and D.P. Kamdem. 2001. Fiber yield for fully bleached kraft pulps from black locust and silver maple. In press Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff 59(1/2):49-52
51. Jusoh I. And D.P. Kamdem.2001. Laboratory evaluation of the decay resistance of rubberwood and CCA type C-treated rubberwood. Holzforschung 55:49-52

Papers Submitted and Accepted 2000-2001

1. D. P. Kamdem, A. Pizzi and A. Jermannaud.1999. Durability of heat-treated wood. In press Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff
2. Francis, R.C., Hausch, D.L., Xu, E.C. and Kamdem, D.P., "Hardwood Chemimechanical Pulps-Sulfonation Versus Hydrogen Peroxide Pretreatment", Accepted without revision by Appita Journal.
3. Yaguang Zhou and D. Pascal Kamdem. 2001. Effect of cement/wood ratio on the properties of cement-bonded particleboard using CCA-treated wood removed from service. Accepted in Forest products journal.

Paper Submitted

1. Charrier B , Charrier F, Janin, G ; D. P. Kamdem , Irmouli M and Goncalez J. 2000. Study of Industrial Boiling Process on walnut color. Submitted to Holzforschung.
2. Charrier, F, B Charrier , D. P. Kamdem , JB.Aurel and G.Janin. 2000.
   Laboratory study of the natural durability of Juglans nigra and hybrid (MJ 209xRA) walnut against Coriolus versicolor. Submitted to Holzforschung.
3. Irmouli M. , J.P. Haluk, D. P. Kamdem and B. Charrier. NMR spectroscopy of ozonated wastewaters obtained from steaming of Fagus sylvatica. Submitted to Holzforschung.
4. Yaguang Zhou and D. Pascal Kamdem. 2000. Effect of cement/wood ratio on the properties of cement-bonded particleboard using CCA-treated wood removed from service. Submitted to Forest products journal.

Conference and/or Symposium Papers (2000)
Conference With Proceedings

1. D. P. Kamdem. 2000. Durability of exterior wood finishing. Carrefour International du bois, Nantes, 2000.
2. Jusoh I. And D. P. Kamdem. 2000. Some properties of flakeboard made with silicone treated strands. Silicones in coatings III. March 2000, Barcelona Spain.
3. D.P. Kamdem. The Chemistry of copper amine wood preservative system interaction. 2000. Proceedings of the sixth European Workshop on Lignocellulosics and Pulp. Bordeaux September 2000. p. 147.
4. D.P. Kamdem. Some aspects of wood photodegradation. Woodcoatings, challenges and solutions in the 21st century. The Hague Netherlands, October 2000.
5. Kamdem D.P. and L.M. Matuana. 2000. Structural flakeboard from mixed hardwood species. 5th Pacific Rim Bio-based Composites symposium. Canbera, Australia December 10-13, 2000.. Winner of the Best Poster Award.
6. Matuana M. L. and Kamdem D.P.. 2000. Ultraviolet weathering of wood flour/plastic composites. 5th Pacific Rim Bio-based Composites symposium. Canberra, Australia December 10-13, 2000. pp 644-651.
7. Zhang, J. and D. P. Kamdem. 2000. Weathering of copper amine treated wood. IRG/WP 00-40155. Kona Hawaii, May 2000.
8. Kamdem D.P. , J. Hope and A. Jermannaud. 2000. Properties of plywood and Osb manufactured with an organic insecticide incorporated in theadhesive formulation. IRG/WP 00-40174, Kona Hawai, May 2000.
9. Barnes H. M. , D. P. Kamdem, and M. H. Freeman. Copper naphthenate-treated southern pine pole stubs in field exposure PartII: Chemical characterization of full size stubs 12 years after treatment. IRG/WP 00-40174, Kona Hawaii, May 2000.
10. Kamdem D.P. and J Zhang. 2000. Characterization of cracks and checks on the surface of weathered wood. IRG/WP 00-40153. Kona Hawaii, May 2000.
11. Kamdem D.P. and J. Zhang. 2000. Contribution of wood components on the absorption of copper amine. IRG/WP 00-30216. Kona Hawaii, May 2000.
12. Kamdem D.P.2000. New emerging Wood preservatives. SAWPA, Johannesburg, RSA. September 2000.