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 35th seminar will be held as follows. Please join.

• Date & Time:Thu.15 Oct., 2015 16:20-17:50

• Place: Engineering 110 Lecture Room, Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University

＜Program＞

• Commentary: Yukihiko MATSUMURA
  
  Professor, Institute of Engineering, Hiroshima University

• Lecture: Obie FAROBIE
  
  Assistant Professor, Institute of Engineering, Hiroshima University

“A Comparative Study of Biodiesel Production Using Supercritical MTBE and Methyl Acetate”

Depletion of fossil fuel and environmental pollution problems have attracted a tremendous attention to search an alternative diesel fuel. Biodiesel which is a renewable fuel has been utilized to substitute the petroleum diesel fuel. Currently, biodiesel is mainly produced by homogeneous alkali-catalyzed transesterification. However, this process has numerous constrains such as sensitive to the presence of water, requirement of low free fatty acid (FFA), and the generation of undesirable products. In addition, the overproduction of by-product glycerol is unavoidable since it causes the price of glycerol to fall dramatically. To circumvent this problem, biodiesel production using supercritical MTBE and methyl acetate was conducted. By using this route, GTBE and triacetin which is a higher added-value than glycerol was obtained. However, a comparative study of biodiesel production using supercritical MTBE and methyl acetate has not been made. Therefore, the aim of this study is to elucidate the difference in the reaction behavior of MTBE and methyl acetate in the production of biodiesel under supercritical condition. A continuous reactor was employed, and experiments were conducted at various reaction temperatures (300–400 ℃) and reaction times (5–30 min) and at a fixed pressure of 20 MPa and an oil-to-reactant molar ratio of 1:40. The results showed that under the same reaction conditions, supercritical MTBE provided higher biodiesel yield than supercritical methyl acetate. The reaction kinetics of biodiesel production for supercritical MTBE and methyl acetate was also compared.

• Lecture: Yusuke TAKASE
  
  M2 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

“Effect of Particle Size, Concentration and Holding Time on Hydrothermal Pretreatment of EFB”

EFB (Empty fruit bunches) is the residue produced in the production of palm oil. Ethanol production is one of the effective utilization of it. By hydrothermal pretreatment, saccharification efficiency is improved, but fermentation inhibitors are produced during hydrothermal conditions. Although the glucose yield is important, the effect of feedstock particle size, concentration and holding time is not elucidated. The objective of this study is to gain the knowledge on the effect of particle size, concentration and holding time on hydrothermal pretreatment of EFB.

• Lecture: Yoshiki AKEYAMA
  
  M2 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

“Supercritical water gasification of barley shochu residue (Japanese Distilled Liquor)”

For effective utilization of wet biomass, supercritical water gasification (SCWG) has attracted attention. It is significant to determine the gasification characteristic of shochu (Japanese Distilled Liquor) residue which is one of the food wastes. Although the study was conducted using shochu residue as feedstock, it has not been clarified to confirm its gasification rate. The purpose of this study was to obtain knowledge the behavior of shochu residue in supercritical water. A continuous reactor was employed to determine the gasification characteristics of shochu residue in supercritical water.

• Chair: Thachanan SAMANMULYA
  
  Assistant Professor, Institute of Engineering, Hiroshima University

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