Biomass Project Research Center, Hiroshima University, and HOSTY Association are co-organizing the Hiroshima University Biomass Evening Seminar. This seminar covers topics from the fundamentals of biomass to the latest information so that it can contribute the activities on biomass in this district. The 24th seminar will be held as follows. Please join.

• Date & Time:
  
  
  
  Wed.22 Oct., 2014 16:20-17:50
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Place:
  
  
  
  Engineering 110 Lecture Room, Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University
  
  
  
  

[Program]

• Commentary: Yukihiko MATSUMURA

Professor, Institute of Engineering, Hiroshima University

• Chair: Machi KANNA

Assistant Professor, Institute of Engineering, Hiroshima University

• Lecture: Yutaka NAKASHIMADA
  
  Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University
  
  
  
  
  
  Department of Molecular Microbiology, Hiroshima University, Japan,JST-CREST
  
  
  
  “Biogas production from marine biomass with marine microbial consortia”
  
  
  
  Marine macroalgae are getting much attention as renewable energy resources. Among them, biomass of brown macroalgae is available in large quantities at various ocean areas. Since macroalgae contains a lot of moisture (> 90%, w/w), biological treatment is suitable compared to e.g. conventional gasification technique. Especially, methane fermentation has several advantages for energy recovery process. Although the biomass should be treated at the site as close as possible from the cultivated area, such use of methane fermentation of macroalgae on the ocean was restricted because high salinity of biomass and surround water significantly usually inhibits methane production. Therefore, we are trying to improve methane productivity under the saline conditions. In the study, various marine sediments were tested biogas production of a brown alga at seawater salinity. Among them, one marine sediment completely converted the produced volatile fatty acids to methane. Archaeal community analysis revealed that acetoclastic methanogens belonging to the Methanosarcina genus dominated after cultivation. Measurement of the specific conversion rate at each step of methane production under saline conditions demonstrated that the marine sediments had higher conversion rates of butyrate and acetate than mesophilic methanogenic granules. These results clearly suggest that marine sediments are promising microbial sources for biogas production from algae under high-salt conditions without dilution.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Lecture: Thachanan SAMANMULYA
  
  Assistant Professor, Institute of Engineering, Hiroshima University
  
  
  
  “Supercritical water gasification characteristics of 5 amino acids, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, and proline.”
  
  
  
  Since the principle of supercritical water gasification was discovered, supercritical water gasification of biomass is a promising technology for producing combustible gas such as hydrogen and methane. Nonetheless, less by products is found concurrently during supercritical water gasification. To elucidate reaction mechanism of supercritical water gasification of biomass, correlation between kinetic rate and temperature is useful to classify radical and ionic reactions which are important role of the supercritical water gasification. Utilization of model compounds is effective to evaluate the kinetic parameter of supercritical water gasification. Studying behavior of the protein is important, especially for food waste and animal matter. For model compound of protein, amino acids are good candidate considering hydrolysis of protein produces amino acids. Glycine, Alanine, Valine, and Leucine were chosen as a representative of aliphatic amino acids. Proline is also chosen for amino acid cyclic compound. The experiments are conducted in continuous system and simultaneously to evaluate the effects of temperature and residence time. The various reaction products obtained (gas, liquid and solid fractions) are evaluated based on qualitative and quantitative manner.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We will hold the discussion meeting from 18:00 (800 JPY needed). Join this meeting, too if you are available.

[Inquiries about this article]

Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

Y.NAKASHIMA

Mail: y4naka [AT] hiroshima-u.ac.jp

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