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 49th seminar will be held as follows.  Please join.

[Date & Time]
Mon.16  Jan, 2017   16:20-17:50

[Place]
Engineering 108 Lecture Room, Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University

For the access to the venue, click here.
For the campus map, click here.
For the layout of the lecture rooms, click here. (Japanese page)

[Program]

Commentary: Yukihiko MATSUMURA (Professor, Institute of Engineering, Hiroshima University)

Chair: Obie FAROBIE (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor, Institute of Engineering HiroshimaUniversity)

◆Lecture: Soichi HIROTA
M2 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

“Torrefaction of Algae ”

The torrefaction treating biomass at low temperature under inert atmosphere to improve low calorific value and higher cost of transportation was carried out using Laminaria japonica, Spirulina and Chlorella and 5 different temperatures from 140 oC to 320 oC.  Focusing on each yield after treatment, the solid yield decreased with the increase of temperature, while, liquid and gas yield increased.  The main component of produced gas was carbon dioxide and some carbon monoxide was also detacted.  Also, Spirulina and Chlorella showed higher solid recovery rate, carbon content and HHV value than L. Japonica at high temperature.

◆Lecture: Satoshi GOTO
M1 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University
        

“Effect of Particle size on hydrothermal pretreatment of eucalyptus”

The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of particle size and temperature during hydrothermal pretreatment of eucalyptus. We conducted research varied from 90-125 um to 180-500 um as particle size. 200 degrees Celsius and 4 K/min were used as target temperature and hating rate. Agitation rate is 50 rpm and the concentration of eucalyptus is 10wt%. In each particle size, we changed holding time from 0 to 30 min. With regard to analysis, CHN, NREL, FT-IR and XRD was used for solid sample and TOC, HPLC and NREL was for liquid sample. particle size was effective to the generation of acetic acid.

◆Lecture: Nattacha PAKSUNG
D3 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

“Interaction between model compounds in lignocellulosic biomass under supercritical water conditions ”

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) is a conversion technique to transform biomass into energy without necessity of drying process because water in supercritical state (temperature and pressure above 374 °C and 22.1 MPa, respectively) behaves as an organic solvent so that a high conversion can be achieved. Plant biomass or lignocellulosic biomass is a good candidate for a feedstock utilized in this process due to its large availability on Earth. It consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, which are easy to be gasified and lignin, which inhibits gasification. Previously, reaction pathways of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin were individually proposed by many researchers. However, the study of the reaction mechanisms of the overall biomass is still rare. Therefore, this research is to study the interaction between these compounds in supercritical water aiming for better understanding in a behavior of lignocellulosic biomass in the gasification. To simplify the reaction mechanisms, model compounds for each component are employed instead of the complex structure of those. The interaction between glucose that is a model compound of cellulose, xylose that is a model compound of hemicellulose and guaiacol that is a model compound of lignin is investigated using tubular reactor. Reaction temperatures is 450 °C. A pressure of the system is 25 MPa for all conditions. The effect of each compound in the feedstock, and residence time on product yields as well as interaction networks of glucose, xylose and guaiacol will be presented.

◆Lecture: Naoki YAMAGUCHI 
M2 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

“Dissolution of cellulose packed bed in various solutions ”

Cellulose is a good resource which leads to bioethanol as renewable energy. It is considered that high crystalline of cellulose makes bioethanol production difficult, but dissolving cellulose in hot compressed water called hydrothermal pretreatment shorten the whole time of this process. However, the concentration of dissolved cellulose in hot compressed water is low. To make this process more attractive finding and using solvents which can dissolve cellulose in high concentration is necessary, but those research has not done yet. In this paper my objective is to confirm the solubility of cellulose in different solvents under hydrothermal condition.

*We will hold the discussion meeting from 18:00 (800 JPY needed). Join this meeting, too if you are available.

[Inquiries]
HOSTY Association (Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University)
E-mail: bprc(AT)hiroshima-u.ac.jp (Please replace (AT) with @)