On Sep 11, 2013, the 12th Biomass Evening Seminar was held at Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University.

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.

• Commentary

Yukihiko MATSUMURA

Professor, Institute of Engineering

• Lecture

"STUDY ON THE LIGNIN DECOMPOSITION IN SUBCRITICAL AND SUPERCRITICAL WATER: DETAILED REACTION PATHWAYS, MECHANISM, AND KINETICS"

Tau Len Kelly Yong

D3 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

.

 Understanding the lignin chemistry under hydrothermal conditions is a challenge since its structure is extremely complex due to its long polymer chains with abundance aromatic rings in addition to hydroxyl and methoxyl substituent.

 Although it is established that lignin rapidly depolymerized and higher char yield obtained in supercritical water, the mechanism are not established conclusively.

 Hence, the conversion of lignin and its model compounds (guaiacol, benzene, and phenol) was studied at 300–450 degree Centigrade, 25 MPa at residence times of 0.5–100 s. From the results obtained, we constructed detailed reaction pathways that encompassed all the reactions.

 These reaction pathways are subsequently used to obtain the kinetic parameters fitted to the resulting differential equation based on first order reaction. The kinetic parameters elucidated shows good agreement with one another.

 Hence the reaction rates of these reaction pathways are successfully described in this study.

“Electrochemical cultivation of Acetobacterium woodii with the ability to assimilate H₂ and CO₂”

Naoki FUKUMOTO

M1 Student, Graduate school of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University

  The reduction of CO₂ emissions has been required because of the fears of global warming.

 In our laboratory, therefore, we have investigated a useful material production technology from H₂ as energy source and CO₂ as a sole carbon source by homo acetogen Acetobacterium woodii.

 However, renewable energies such as solar and wind power are usually converted to not H₂ but electricity now.

 In this context, if electricity can be used as energy source for useful material production directly or as H₂ via electrolysis of the medium, we can dramatically expand renewable resources for useful material production by means of fermentation technology.

 In this study, therefore, we aimed to establish the electrochemical cultivation of Acetobacterium woodii.

• Chair

Machi KANNA

Assistant Professor, Institute of Engineering