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 61st seminar will be held as follows. Please join.

Wednesday, 14 February, 2018 16:20-17:50

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

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

◆Lecture: Aya NAKAJI
M2 Student, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University

“Functional analysis of formate-tetrahydrofolate ligase (FTL) with sugar and H2 - CO2 metabolism of Moorella thermoacetica”
Recently, production of useful materials using CO2 has been drawing attention. Our laboratory succeeded in producing a genetically engineered ethanol producing mutant derived from thermophilic Moorella thermoacetica ATCC 39073 which ferments carbohydrates, syngas and H2-CO2. However, the mutant produced ethanol only from sugar, but did not from H2 + CO2. At this time, it was considered that formate-tetrahydrofolate ligase (FTL) was a bottleneck of H2 + CO2 metabolism because formate accumulated. Therefore, in this study, I constructed mutant strains in which FTL gene was introduced and analyzed their characteristics.

◆Lecture: Satoshi GOTO
M2 Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University

“Reaction Model for Supercritical Water Gasification of Shochu Residue”
Supercritical water gasification has the potential of complete gasification especially for wet biomass. However undesirable products such as tarry material and char can cause plugging of the reactor and low gasification efficiency. Acetic acid can be effective as the radical scavenger to suppress these products. The quantitative study for the effect of acetic acid with real biomass has never been conducted yet. In this study, the effect of acetic acid on SCWG of real biomass was determined and reaction model was applied.

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

“Supercritical water gasification of tomato residues”
Among many solutions to cope with fossil fuel depletion, which is a global concern nowadays, lignocellulosic biomass is a good alternative for renewable energy production as a second generation biofuel. Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) can be an efficient conversion technology to convert biomass, most of which has high water composition, into burnable gas. Due to the ability of supercritical water to dissolve biomass, reactions can take place homogenously in the water and reaction rate is enhanced. In this study, tomato residue was employed as lignocellulosic biomass. The SCWG of tomato was investigated in hydrothermal condition under constant pressure of 25 MPa. The reactor employed in this study is a small tubular reactor of SS316 with inner and outer diameters of 2.17 mm and 3.8 mm, respectively. In this work, the effect of temperature on the product distribution is focused.

“Catalytic effects of phenol on hydrothermal decomposition of glucose”
Supercritical water is water at fluid phase when temperature and pressure are above its critical values (374 °C, 22.1 MPa). At this state, water has high potential as a solvent for organic components and gases. As a result, biomass could be homogeneously dissolved in supercritical water and consequently obtain high conversion. In this study, interaction between cellulose and lignin that takes place in supercritical water was modeled by interaction between glucose and phenol.

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