Thomas L. Eberhardt
Research Scientist and Project Leader
Wood Anatomy and Forest Mycology in a Changing Global Environment
One Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726
United States
Madison, WI 53726
United States
Phone
608-231-9295
Education
- Virginia Tech, Ph.D., Wood Chemistry, 1992
- Virginia Tech, M.S., Wood Science and Forest Products, 1988
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.S., Forest Science, 1985
Professional Experience
- Research Scientist and Project Leader, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 2014 - Current
- Research Scientist, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 2002 - 2014
- Research Chemist, Westvaco Corporation, Charleston Research, 1996 - 2002
- Research Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994 - 1996
Featured Publications
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Leduc, Daniel J.; Groom, Leslie H.; Goelz, Jeffery C. G.. 2010. Wood quality for longleaf pines: a spacing, thinning and pruning study on the Kisatchie National Forest
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Mahfouz, Jolie M.; Sheridan, Philip M.. 2010. Pondering the monoterpene composition of <i>Pinus serotina</i> Michx.: can limonene be used as a chemotaxonomic marker for the identification of old turpentine stumps?
- Samuelson, Lisa J.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Butnor, John R.; Stokes, Tom A.; Johnsen, Kurt H.. 2010. Maximum growth potential in loblolly pine: results from a 47-year-old spacing study in Hawaii
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Catallo, W. James; Shupe, Todd F.. 2010. Hydrothermal transformation of Chinese privet seed biomass to gas-phase and semi-volatile products
- Harper, David P.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2010. Evaluation of micron-sized wood and bark particles as filler in thermoplastic composites
Other Publications
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Lebow, Patricia K.; Sheridan, Philip M.; Bhuta, Arvind A.R.. 2022. Identifying southern yellow pine cross sections from the southeastern United States using quadratic discriminant analysis on pith and second annual ring diameters
- Gu, Qiang ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Shao, Jingjing ; Pan, Hui. 2022. Preparation of an oxyalkylated lignin‐g‐ polylactic acid copolymer to improve the compatibility of an organosolv lignin in blended poly(lactic acid) films
- Zhang, Yongjian ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Cai, Bo ; Wu, Mingqi ; Xu, Xiangxin ; Feng, Junfeng ; Pan, Hui. 2022. Organosolv fractionation of a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock using a pilot scale microwave-heating reactor
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Samuelson, Lisa J.. 2022. Comparison of lignin and polysaccharide sugar contents for slash, longleaf, and loblolly pine growth rings formed during periods of soil moisture extremes
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Samuelson, Lisa J.. 2022. Specific gravity of slash, longleaf, and loblolly pine growth rings formed in mature trees during periods of drought
- Wang, Shuai ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Pan, Hui. 2022. Efficient dehydration of fructose into 5-HMF using a weakly-acidic catalyst prepared from a lignin-derived mesoporous carbon
- Dahlen, Joseph ; Nabavi, Mohamad ; Auty, David ; Schimleck, Laurence ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2021. Models for predicting the within-tree and regional variation of tracheid length and width for plantation loblolly pine
- Wiedenhoeft, Alex; Eberhardt, Thomas. 2021. Structure and function of wood
- Zhang, Yongjian ; Wang, Hao ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Gu, Qiang ; Pan, Hui. 2021. Preparation of carboxylated lignin-based epoxy resin with excellent mechanical properties
- Kim, Keonhee ; Voothuluru, Priya ; Hamilton, Choo ; McCord, Jessica ; Tamang, Bijay ; Cunningham, Michael ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Rials, Timothy ; Labbé, Nicole. 2021. Tradeoffs between yield, disease incidence and conversion efficiency for selection of hybrid poplar genotypes as bioenergy feedstocks
- Westfall, James A.; Sonti, Nancy F.; Wiemann, Michael C.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung. 2020. Urban tree specific gravity and ash content: A case study from Baltimore, Maryland USA
- Zhang, Xuefeng ; Kim, Yunsang ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Shmulsky, Rubin. 2019. Lab-scale structural insulated panels with lignin-incorporated rigid polyurethane foams as core
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung ; Leduc, Daniel J.. 2019. Wood property maps showing wood variability in mature longleaf pine: does getting old change juvenile tendencies?
- Wright, Stephen ; Dahlen, Joseph ; Montes, Cristian ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2019. Quantifying knots by image analysis and modeling their effects on the mechanical properties of loblolly pine lumber
- Dahlen, Joseph ; Auty, David ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Turnblom, Eric ; Lowell, Eini ; Schimleck, Laurence ; Montes, Cristian. 2019. Assessing the within-tree variation in stiffness from ultrasonic velocity and specific gravity measurements in Douglas-fir and loblolly pine
- Wang, Hao ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Wang, Chunpeng ; Gao, Shishuai ; Pan, Hui. 2019. Demethylation of alkali lignin with halogen acids and its application to phenolic resins
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung ; Leduc, Daniel J.; Dahlen, Joe. 2019. Comparison of juvenile wood depictions to wood property maps from mature longleaf pine
- Zhang, Xuefeng ; Kim, Yunsang ; Elsayed, Islam ; Taylor, Madison ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Hassan, EI Barbary; Shmulsky, Rubin. 2019. Rigid polyurethane foams containing lignin oxyalkylated with ethylene carbonate and polyethylene glycol
- Olatinwo, Rabiu ; So, Chi-Leung ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2019. Effect of Acaromyces ingoldii secondary metabolites on the growth of brown-rot (Gloeophyllum trabeum) and white-rot (Trametes versicolor) fungi
- Dahlen, Joseph ; Auty, David ; Eberhardt, Thomas. 2018. Models for predicting specific gravity and ring width for loblolly pine from intensively managed plantations, and implications for wood utilization
- So, Chi-Leung ; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Leduc, Daniel J.. 2018. Within-tree variability in wood quality parameters for mature longleaf pine
- Nabavi, Mohamad; Dahlen, Joseph; Schimleck, Laurence; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Montes, Cristian. 2018. Regional calibration models for predicting loblolly pine tracheid properties using near-infrared spectroscopy
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung ; Leduc, Daniel J.. 2018. Wood variability in mature longleaf pine: differences related to cardinal direction for a softwood in a humid subtropical climate
- Dahlen, Joseph ; Montes, Cristian ; Eberhardt, Thomas ; Auty, David. 2018. Probability models that relate nondestructive test methods to lumber design values of plantation loblolly pine
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2018. FTIR-based models for assessment of mass yield and biofuel properties of torrefied wood
- Zhou, Mengchao; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Cai, Bo; Hse, Chung-Yun; Pan, Hui. 2017. Dynamic dielectric properties of a wood liquefaction system using polyethylene glycol and glycerol
- Butler, Mark Alexander; Dahlen, Joseph; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Montes, Cristian; Antony, Finto; Daniels, Richard F.. 2017. Acoustic evaluation of loblolly pine tree- and lumber-length logs allows for segregation of lumber modulus of elasticity, not for modulus of rupture
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Dahlen, Joseph; Schimleck, Laurence. 2017. Species comparison of the physical properties of loblolly and slash pine wood and bark
- Zhou, Mengchao; Eberhardt, Thomas; Xin, Pingping; Hse, Chung-Yun; Pan, Hui. 2016. Liquefaction of torrefied wood using microwave irradiation
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung; Reed, Karen G.. 2016. Yield and Production Properties of Wood chips and Particles Torrefied in a Crucible Furnace Retort
- Butler, Mark Alexander; Dahlen, Joseph; Antony, Finto; Kane, Michael; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Jin, Huizhe; Love-Myers, Kim; McTague, John Paul. 2016. Relationships between Loblolly Pine small clear specimens and Dimension Lumber Tested in Static Bending
- Butler, Mark Alexander; Dahlen, Joseph; Daniels, Richard F.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Antony, Finto. 2016. Bending strength and stiffness of loblolly pine lumber from intensively managed stands located on the Georgia Lower Coastal Plain
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung; Labbé, Nicole; Leduc, Daniel J.; Warren, Jeffrey M.. 2016. Changes in bark composition from long-term elevated CO<sub>2</sub> treatment: Implications for the management of sweetgum as a wood energy crop
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2015. Thickness and roughness measurements for air-dried longleaf pine bark
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Sheridan, Philip M.; So, Chi-Leung; Bhuta, Arvind A.R.; Reed, Karen G.. 2015. The quest for methods to identify longleaf pine stump relicts in Southeastern Virginia
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Samuelson, Lisa J.. 2015. Collection of wood quality data by X-ray densitometry: a case study with three southern pines
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Labbé, Nicole; So, Chi-Leung; Kim, Keonhee; Reed, Karen G.; Leduc, Daniel J.; Warren, Jeffrey M.. 2015. Effects of long-term elevated CO<sub>2</sub> treatment on the inner and outer bark chemistry of sweetgum (<em>Liquidambar styraciflua</em> L.) trees
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Reed, Karen G.. 2014. Technical note: Evaluation of a crucible furnace retort for laboratory torrefactions of wood chips
- Samuelson, Lisa; Eberhardt, Thomas; Bartkowiak, Stan; Johnsen, Kurt. 2013. Relationships between climate, radial growth and wood properties of mature loblolly pine in Hawaii and a northern and southern site in the southeastern United States
- Jackson, Michael; Eberhardt, Thomas; Boateng, Akwasi; Mullen, Charles; Groom, Les. 2013. Evaluation of biochars by temperature programmed oxidation/mass spectrometry
- Eberhardt, Thomas. 2013. Longleaf pine inner bark and outer bark thicknesses: Measurement and relevance
- Eberhardt, Thomas L; Pan, Hui. 2013. Analysis of the fly ash from the processing of wood chips in a pilot-scale downdraft gasifier: Comparison of inorganic constituents determined by PIXE and ICP-AES
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2013. A Mid-IR Multivariate Analysis Study on the Gross Calorific Value in Longleaf Pine: Impact on Correlations with Lignin and Extractive Contents
- Sung, Shi-Jean S.; Leduc, Daniel J.; Haywood, James D.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Sword Sayer, Mary Anne; Zarnoch, Stanley J.. 2012. Methodology and preliminary results of evaluating stem displacement and assessing root system architecture of longleaf pine saplings
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Lebow, Stan; Reed, Karen G.. 2012. Partial dissolution of ACQ-treated wood in lithium chloride/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone: Separation of copper from potential lignocellulosic feedstocks
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Pan, Hui. 2012. Elemental analyses of chars isolated from a biomass gasifier fly ash
- Jeong, Chang Yoon; Wang, Jim J.; Dodla, Syam K.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Groom, Les. 2012. Effect of biochar amendment on tylosin adsorption-desorption and transport in two different soils
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2012. Impact of industrial source on the chemical composition of loblolly pine
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Groom, Les; Shupe, Todd F.. 2012. A Spectroscopic study on the fuel value of softwoods in relation to chemical composition
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2011. The prediction of gross calorific value using infrared (IR) spectroscopy and multivariate analysis
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Sheridan, Philip M.; Bhuta, Arvind A.R.. 2011. Revivification of a method for identifying longleaf pine timber and its application to southern pine relicts in southeastern Virginia
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Pan, Hui; Groom, Leslie H.; So, Chi-Leung. 2011. Characterization and partitioning of the char ash collected after the processing of pine wood chips in a pilot-scale gasification unit
- Pan, Hui; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2011. Characterization of fly ash from the gasification of wood and assessment for its application as a soil amendment
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2010. Chemical and calorific characterisation of longleaf pine using near infrared spectroscopy
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Sheridan, Philip M.; Reed, Karen G.. 2009. Surfing the Koehler Curve: revisiting a method for the identification of longleaf pine stumps and logs
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2009. Characterization of southern yellow pine bark layers by Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung; Protti, Andrea; So, Po-Wah. 2009. Gadolinium chloride as a contrast agent for imaging wood composite components by magnetic resonance
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Sheridan, Philip M.; Mahfouz, Jolie M.. 2009. Monoterpene persistence in the sapwood and heartwood of longleaf pine stumps: assessment of differences in composition and stability under field conditions
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Reed, Karen G.; So, Chi-Leung. 2009. Partitioning of pine bark components to obtain a value-added product for plywood manufacture
- So, Chi-Leung; Lebow, Stan T.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Groom, Leslie H.; Shupe, Todd F.. 2009. Application of near-infrared spectroscopy to preservative-treated wood
- Catallo, W. James; Shupe, Todd F.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2008. Hydrothermal processing of biomass from invasive aquatic plants
- Shupe, Todd F.; Groom, Leslie H.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Pesacreta, Thomas C.; Rials, Timoty G.. 2008. Selected mechanical and physical properties of Chinese tallow tree juvenile wood
- McSweeny, James D.; Rowell, Roger M.; Chen, George C.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Min Soo-Hong,. 2008. Periodate and hypobromite modification of Southern pine wood to improve sorption of copper ion
- Shupe, Todd F.; Groom, LEslie H.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Pesacreta, Thomas C.; Rials, Timothy G.. 2008. Selected mechanical and physical properties of Chinese tallow tree juvenile wood
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Min, Soo-Hong. 2008. Biosorbents prepared from wood particles treated with anionic polymer and iron salt: Effect of particle size on phosphate adsorption
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2007. A reassessment of the compressive strength properties of southern yellow pine bark
- Eberhardt, Thomasl L.; Li, Xiaobo; Shupe, Todd F.; Hse, Chung Y.. 2007. Chinese tallow tree (<i>Sapium sebiferum</i>) utilization: characterization of extractives and cell-wall chemistry
- Gao, Heng; Shupe, Todd F.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Hse, Chung Y.. 2007. Antioxidant activity of extracts from the wood and bark of Port OrFord cedar
- Li, X.B.; Shupe, T.F.; Peter, G.F.; Hse, C.Y.; Eberhardt, T.L.. 2007. Chemical changes with maturation of the bamboo species phyllostachys pubescens
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Elder, Thomas; Labbe, Nicole. 2007. Analysis of ethanol-soluble extractives in southern pine wood by low-field proton NMR
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Hsu, Ernest; Via, Brian K.; Hse, Chung Y.. 2007. Infrared spectroscopic monitoring of urea addition to oriented strandboard resins
- Min, S.-H.; Eberhardt, Thomas; Min, Jang. 2007. Base-treated juniper fiber media for removing heavy metals in stormwater runoff
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Min, Soo-Hong; Han, James S.. 2006. Phosphate removal by refined aspen wood fiber treated with carboxymethyl cellulose and ferrous chloride
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2006. Rapid analysis of inner and outer bark composition of southern yellow pine bark from industrial sources
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Sheridan, Philip M.; Mahfouz, Jolie M.; So, Chi-Leung. 2006. Old resinous turpentine stumps as an indicator of the range of longleaf pine in Southeastern Virginia
- Eberhardt, Thomas L. 2006. Polymer-treated woody biomass: a filtration medium for removing phosphate from water
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung; Herlihy, Amy H.; So, Po-Wah. 2006. Use of gadolinium chloride as a contrast agent for imaging spruce knots by magnetic resonance
- So, Chi-Leung; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Lebow, Stan T.; Groom, Leslie H.. 2006. A preliminary study of preservative retention and penetration in ACQ-treated timbers using near infrared spectroscopy
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Reed, Karen G.. 2006. Strategies for improving the performance of plywood adhesive mix fillers from southern yellow pine bark
- McSweeny, James D.; Rowell, Roger M.; Chen, George C.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Min, Soo-Hong. 2006. Removal of heavy metals from water with forest based materials
- Gao, Heng; Shupe, Todd F.; Hse, Chung Y.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.. 2006. Antioxidant activity of extracts from the bark of <i>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</i> (A. Murrary) Parl.
- Shupe, Todd F.; Groom, Leslie H.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Rials, Timothy G.; Hse, Chung Y.; Pesacreta, Thomas. 2006. Mechanical and physical properties of composite panels manufactured from Chinese tallow tree furnish
- Eberhardt, Thomas L.; Reed, Karen G.. 2005. Grinding and classification of pine bark for use as plywood adhesive filler
Research Highlights

Environmental impacts on tree bark chemistry
Year: 2017
Evidence shows changes in tree bark chemistry from a long-term elevated carbon dioxide treatment have the potential to impact their conversion to biofuels.

Biomass Pre-Processing by Torrefaction Improves Biofuel Consistency
Year: 2018
Custom-made equipment fabricated for the torrefaction of wood chips now provides the sample quantities needed for application testing and quality control assessments.

Does Getting Old Change Juvenile Tendencies? Maps Show Wood Variability in Mature Longleaf Pine
Year: 2019
Juvenile wood in pines is usually shown as a central core of wood, varying little by diameter or cambial age, nested within mature wood tapering to the upper portion of the stem. This USDA Forest service study addresses the degree to which different representations of juvenile wood are applicable t...

Comparing Juvenile Wood Depictions in the Literature to Wood Property Maps for Mature Longleaf Pines
Year: 2020
Juvenile wood in the southern pines is usually shown as a central core of wood surrounded by mature wood, the latter tapering down in thickness when moving from the base of a tree to its crown. The present study addresses the degree to which different juvenile wood depictions presented in the litera...

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Tree Bark
Year: 2015
Evidence shows changes in bark chemistry from an elevated carbon dioxide treatment applied to sweetgum trees.