Fundamental Researech for Industry in Harmony with Environment

Industrial Production in Harmony with the Global Environment

Objectives of The Research　　

Sustainable economic growth in the next century requires development of new industrial technologies in harmony with the global environment. We have been conducting R & D on energy and environmental preservation, such as the use of coal, the recycle of waste material and the prevention of pollution to improve the constitution of the primary energy supply and demand of Japan, and to overcome a problem derived from industrial production. Through these R & D, technologies on fluidized-bed, coal conversion and super-critical fluid have been cultivated for a long time in our institute. For this ends, we are developing a new recycle technology of carbonaceous matter and a new preservation technology of environment based on the cultivated technology.

Environmental Preservation Technology

Industry for Safety Life

・ A New Combustion System for CO₂ Separation and NO_x Reduction

A new Combustion system, so called CO₂/O₂ combustion in which a large portion of flue gas from the combustor is recycled with oxygen addition, has been applied for bubbling fluidized-bed combustion (BFBC) of coal. This system enables to concentrate CO₂ in flue gas up to approximately 96% without any separation processes of CO₂. In the system, furthermore, the conversions of fuel nitrogen into NO_x and N₂O can be lowered to less than 1/6 of those in conventional air combustion, because the fluidizedｰbed functions to decompose NO_x and N₂O recycled.

・CO₂ Sequestration in Deep Sea

In order to sequester a large amount of CO₂, the greenhouse effect gas, fundamental studies are carried out on CO₂ hydrates: such as Raman spectroscopic measurements, mechanical property measurements, surface tension measurements, and so on.

　

Formation process of CO₂ hydrate (P=3.90MPa and T=277.4K)
(a)Before the formation of CO₂ hydrate
(b)CO₂ hydrate film uncleated at a bundary (pointed by an arrow), which were observed about 500 s after introducing the water droplet
(c)0.5 s after the nucleation
(d)1 s after: propagation process of CO₂ hydrate film
(e)2 s after: bubble formation at the boundary
(f)15 s after: the water droplet covered with CO₂ hydrate
　

	Formation process of CO₂ hydrate (P=3.90MPa and T=277.4K) (a)Before the formation of CO₂ hydrate (b)CO₂ hydrate film uncleated at a bundary (pointed by an arrow), which were observed about 500 s after introducing the water droplet (c)0.5 s after the nucleation (d)1 s after: propagation process of CO₂ hydrate film (e)2 s after: bubble formation at the boundary (f)15 s after: the water droplet covered with CO₂ hydrate

・Fluidized Bed Purification of Sea Sand Polluted by Heavy Oil

Sand polluted with heavy oil by stranding of a tanker gives influence to ecosystem for long term. We developed a method to remove the heavy oil which coated surface of sand using the fluidized bed combustion reactor. 　

・Improvement of Mutagenic Assay with Humanized Cells

Genetically engineered cells carrying human metabolic enzyme genes have been constructed. Since such humanized cells are able to simulate metabolic activation of environmental mutagens in a human liver, the humanized cell would be useful for precise assessment of mutagenicity of environmental pollutants.

・Production of Super Active charcoal

A production technology for a super active charcoal which is made out of rice husks and which has an extremely large specific surface area has been developed. Its specific surface area of more than 3,000 m^２/g (square meter per gram) and low ash content make this active charcoal and attractive material for various applications in medical, drinking water purification, as an adsorbent of environmental contaminants, and for other purposes to which conventional active charcoal has not yet been applied.

・Versatile Destruction Technique of Chlorinated Organic Compound

The microwave reduction technique using reduction catalyst and photocatalyst has been developed in order to convert chlorinated organic compound such as flons or PCBs to harmful substances. Some chlorinated organic compound is assumed to deteriorate environment, and is regulated strictly.

Recycle Tecchnology of Carbonaceous Matter

Utilization of Unused Resources and Useful Waste

・Study on Liquefaction and Dechlorination of Plastics

To recycle waste plastics as solid fuel, fuel for transportation and chemical materials, we are developing a variety of techniques, including two-stage plastic catalytic cracking liquefaction method using zeolite as catalyst and dechlorination pretreatment methods of PVC plastics. This technique allows the production of pollution-free high-caloric solid fuel and mixed fuel of gasoline and kerosene. Pilot test of these products have already been conducted by local governments, among other organizations.

・Research on Material Conversions in a Supercritical Fluid

Supercritical fluids are receiving a great deal of attention as a reaction solvent bearing specific properties. The objective of this research is to develop effective production of salicylic acid as chemical feed stocks such as crystalline liquid and etc., the phenol obtained from thermal decomposition of the organic wastes is carboxylated in a supercritical carbon dioxide.

・Advanced Utilization of the Lumber Resources by Microwave Irradiation Pyrolysis Method

The planned thinning is necessary for the healthy cultivation of forest. Abundant larch trees are thinned out in recent years in Hokkaido. The advanced utilization of such plentiful lumber resources is desired. We developed a new pyrolysis method of the lumber by microwave irradiation. We are doing the technical development which will produce useful substances such as bioactive substances, highly efficient activated carbon, anhydrosugars from unused wood resources by the new pyrolysis method.

Microwave pyrplysis apparatus

・Production of L-Lactic Acid (lactide) by Direct Fermentation of Potato

In order to contribute to the promotion of industries located in Hokkaido area, a new process for the production of L-lactic acid (lactide), from which biodegradable polymers can be derived, was developed, comprising of the direct fermentation of potato which is a common agricultural product of Hokkaido.

Test-Plant for L-lactic acid production

　

・Removal of Toxic Heavy Metal from Fisheries Waste by Fermentation Method

Using lactic acid fermentation methods, harmful heavy metal contained by fisheries waste such as Ezo scallop midgut gland was removed, and the technology which reuse products as animal feed was developed.