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 56th seminar will be held as follows. Please join.

Wednesday, 13 September, 2017 16:20-17:50

Engineering 106 Lecture Room, Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University

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Commentary and Chair: Yukihiko MATSUMURA
Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

◆Lecture: Paksung NATTACHA
D3 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University
“Gasification of Lignocellulosic Biomass under Sub- and Super Critical Water Condition: Interaction between Model Compounds and Process Evaluation ”

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) is promising method to convert biomass into gaseous products. At supercritical state of water, biomass could be homogeneously dissolved in supercritical water and consequently obtain high conversion. However, biomass consists of various compounds that make difficulty to optimize the process. Thereby, reaction scheme and model compound of biomass are keys to achieve the goal. For lignocellulosic biomass, it contains mostly cellulose, hemicellulose and merged by lignin. This research includes fundamental studies, which elucidates mechanisms of model compounds of lignocellulosic biomass in terms of kinetic analysis. A detailed kinetics study allow ones to predict the outcome of the reactions. Furthermore, practical utilization of SCWG system was evaluated to reveal its feasibility in terms of energy, economic and environmental viewpoints.

◆Lecture: Obie FAROBIE       
Visiting Reseacher, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University    
“Supercritical biodiesel production: A-state-of-the-art”

An effort to mitigate global climate change and environmental pollution problems has attracted a tremendous attention in researching renewable energy. One of the most promising renewable energy is biodiesel, which can be derived from the biomass including vegetable oil, microalgae, or animal fats. Several methods have been employed so far to produce biodiesel. Nowadays, supercritical biodiesel production has undergone a vigorous development as the technology offers several advantages over other methods, including the fact that it does not require a catalyst, short residence time, high reaction rate, no pretreatment requirement, and applicability to a wide variety of feedstock. This technology was first employed for biodiesel production using methanol and ethanol. Most recently, biodiesel production in supercritical methyl acetate and tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE) has been developed also. In this paper, supercritical biodiesel production will be discussed in detail. Finally, challenges for improving energy recovery as well as reactant requirement in supercritical biodiesel production and recommendations for future work are provided.

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