Most important contributions to research or practical applications
Dr. Lekounougou Serge-Thierry’s most important contributions revolve around three themes: the energy valorization of forest biomass, the storage and recovery of heat emitted by electronic servers in data processing centers, the thermal modification of wood, and the preservation of wood and fiber quality.

Energy Valorization of Forest Biomass, Energy Storage and Recovery from Electronic Servers:
Research in this area focuses on fiber quality, energy valorization of biomass, and the open-air bio-drying of wood chips, as well as the storage and recovery of heat emitted by electronic servers in data centers. A design for an open-air bio-drying device made of PVC pipes was developed in the laboratory. The device’s role was to accelerate the drying process of the wood chips. The aim of this study was to reduce the moisture content of the wood chips below 20% for use in the manufacture of pellets for residential heating.
Furthermore, a study on the “Development of a new technique for recovering heat emitted by computer servers in order to convert and store it for heating greenhouses in northern environments” was conducted. This study assessed the potential for utilizing this energy source in the Nordic agri-food sector, specifically by evaluating the appropriate parameters for the heat produced by servers and the recovery processes. The study determined the method for recovering heat from servers, identified suitable equipment, and determined the type of greenhouse best suited for energy recovery. A pilot study in a greenhouse is planned for the future to test the effect of the recovered heat on the growth of vegetables and berries under Nordic conditions before large-scale implementation.

Thermal Modification of Wood
In this area, Dr. Lekounougou made a significant contribution to the characterization of thermally modified Canadian wood species. This work has improved our understanding of thermally modified Canadian wood species. Mechanical tests (modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity) and dimensional stability tests have allowed us to understand the strength of thermally modified wood and to master the thermowood process in the pilot kiln at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC). One example of this contribution is the effect of thermal modification temperature on the mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and biological durability of black spruce (Picea mariana). This work has been cited three times in scientific journals.
Wood Preservation and Fiber Quality
Wood is a lignocellulosic material susceptible to degradation by a range of microorganisms. The constituents of wood (cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose) represent a source of nutrition for fungi, bacteria, and insects. Research on this topic has primarily led to a deeper understanding of the various mechanisms of wood degradation and the development of a rapid detection method for wood deterioration caused by white, brown, and soft rot fungi. The analysis of the lignocellulosic constituents of wood (cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, and extractives) was carried out using biochemical, microbiological, and physicochemical methods. A new diagnostic methodology was developed to determine fiber quality in an operational context involving the spruce budworm. This research has resulted in eight publications in international journals and five presentations at national and international conferences. One of the contributions of this research has been the identification of the enzymatic activities involved in wood degradation by the white rot fungus Trametes versicolor, which is cited 24 times in the work of other researchers (published in 2009 in Wood Science and Technology).