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 57th seminar will be held as follows. Please join.

Wednesday, 18 October, 2017 16:20-17:50

Engineering 110 Lecture Room, Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University

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

Chair: Nattacha PAKSUNG
Researcher, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

◆Lecture: Toshihiro TAKAGAKI
M2 Student, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University
“Degradation of excess sludge and its power conversion by microbial fuel cells”

Today, industrial wastewater is purified by activated sludge systems. However, these systems produce a large amount of excess sludge and they burn up excess sludge. Therefore, they spend a great amount of energy burning up excess sludge. On the other hand, the microbial fuel cells (MFC) sludge degradation systems do not need additional energy. Furthermore, what is better, electric power can be acquired from MFC. Therefore, this study is aimed at testing sludge degradation in MFC without burning.

◆Lecture: Mutsumi KUROKI
B4 Student, School of Engineering, Hiroshima University
“In Situ Mass Spectrometry of Glucose Decomposition under Hydrothermal Reactions Using Capillary”

The increase in global world energy demand is causing depletion of fossil fuel resources and leading to global warming. Therefore, potential sources of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels are required. One of the most promising renewable energy sources is biomass. Especially, the second generation bioethanol made from inedible biomass is gaining attention. A high-performance pretreatment process is needed to improve process efficiency. Hydrothermal pretreatment is suitable for this process. The process is simple and economical. To improve the process efficiency, it is important to detect other compounds that exist in the reaction field at high temperatures with a short lifetime.  Our purpose is to develop an in situ mass spectrometry (in situ MS) analysis system that can detect these compounds under hydrothermal condition using capillary. In this study, we used capillary with inner diameter of 0.1 mm to reduce the high pressure of the reactor to  the vacuum pressure required for MS analysis. Pressure reduction was successfully made, and MS analysis was conducted. By making the capillary longer, this technology should be applied to reactions under higher pressure.

◆Lecture: Hiroki YOKOYAMA
B4 Student, School of Engineering, Hiroshima University
“Effect of 5-HMF on Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose”

Today, the second-generation ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is attracting attention. One of the problems for this technology is that 5-hydroxymethylfurfral(5-HMF) produced by hydrothermal treatment inhibits fermentation. However, whether 5-HMF inhibits enzymatic hydrolysis or not has not been well known. The objective of this research is to elucidate the effect of  5-HMF on enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose adding different quantity of 5-HMF ranging from 0 to 0.2 g. As a result, addition of 5-HMF did not affect the enzymatic hydrolysis.

◆Lecture: Soshi HASHIMOTO   
M1 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University
“Decomposition characteristics of DNA under hydrothermal condition”

Phosphorus is used for fertilizer to grow plants and its form is inorganic phosphorus. Recently, phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge have been researched and hydrothermal treatment is proposed as one of the method. DNA is one of the organic phosphorus contained in sewage sludge and we determined the characteristics of decomposition and supercritical water gasification in this study. As the result, DNA decomposition was proceeded but it turned out that inorganic phosphorus in supercritical water precipitated.

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