Faculty Members & Research Themes
Energy, Environment and Chemical Engineering

The objective is to utilize microwaves, which are used in microwave ovens, for industrial applications in chemical processes.

Carbon is not only used as an energy source but also as the main component of industrial materials in various fields. Various forms of carbon precursors are produced depending on the starting materials and pyrolysis process. We explain the pore structure and surface chemical properties of carbonaceous materials produced during the thermal decomposition process of various organic compounds. We describe evaluation methods for the functionality of porous carbon materials and adsorption phenomena. We investigate methods for designing and manufacturing novel high-performance carbon materials, their technologies and evaluation methods, and examine their applicability to individual research.

Students learn the basic principles of catalytic reactions and instrumental analysis methods necessary for catalyst characterization, and practice them through research experiments. Research experiments focus on catalytic reactions related to chemical utilization of carbon dioxide and conversion utilization of fossil carbon resources (coal, methane, heavy oil, waste plastics, biomass) toward establishing green chemistry, developing new catalysts and elucidating catalytic mechanisms. Students read related papers and become familiar with the research background, paper structure, and discussion development necessary for writing a master's thesis.

We attempt to develop treatment processes for solid and liquid wastes and by-products aimed at valuable material recovery, recycling, detoxification, and removal of harmful substances. By applying concepts from chemical engineering, separation engineering, and inorganic synthesis to environmental purification, resource recycling, creation of new functional materials, and zero emission of waste, we are developing technologies to convert various wastes and by-products into valuable materials and utilize them effectively.

Aiming to solve global environmental problems, we are examining petroleum resource/clean energy production and decomposition/detoxification technologies for harmful chemical substances. Specifically, using 'photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry (photoelectrodes)' that can be driven by light energy, we are advancing research on technologies to produce and store chemical energy such as 'hydrogen' and 'hydrogen peroxide', which are expected as energy sources for fuel cells, from water and oxygen, and technologies to decompose and detoxify air and water pollutants.

Utilizing knowledge in inorganic materials science, powder engineering, and chemical engineering, we conduct research on the development of microstructure control processes for functional inorganic materials. We attempt to improve properties by controlling the microstructure of composite ceramics through mechanical methods such as nanoparticle coating and particle surface activation. We are working on the development of recycling technologies such as geopolymer development using industrial by-products such as fly ash.

Nanoparticles with a size of 100 nanometers or less are being utilized and researched in various fields due to their excellent properties. They are very important materials with the potential to lead to the creation of new industrial fields where conventional materials, parts, and equipment industrial structures are integrated. Therefore, this laboratory conducts research aimed at the application of nanoparticles from an engineering perspective. We focus on the development of measurement, synthesis, and control technologies for nanoparticles suspended in the gas phase, which are essential technologies for nanoparticles to be increasingly used in various industrial fields in the future, and provide guidance on literature surveys, exercises, and research on these technologies.

Separation operations are fundamental unit operations in the development of new processes. In addition, separation processes are becoming increasingly important in environmental issues and resource recycling problems, and the development of new separation materials and methods for advanced separation is desired. In developing advanced separation materials, it is necessary to design and control the microstructure of separation materials and to establish quantitative correlations between microstructure and separation characteristics. We systematically investigate and examine these issues.

Biomass plays a very important role in realizing a low-carbon society and a recycling-oriented society. This laboratory conducts research focusing on carbonization and gasification (activation) among biomass conversion technologies. Specifically, we advance research on the production of porous materials such as activated carbon through carbonization and gasification (activation), and their use in gas purification, separation, and water treatment. Furthermore, we also advance research on application to energy devices such as methane gas storage and electric double layer capacitors, daily life-related materials, and medical fields.

Biomass plays a very important role in realizing a low-carbon society and a recycling-oriented society. This laboratory conducts research focusing on carbonization and gasification (activation) among biomass conversion technologies. Specifically, we advance research on the production of porous materials such as activated carbon through carbonization and gasification (activation), and their use in gas purification, separation, and water treatment. Furthermore, we also advance research on application to energy devices such as methane gas storage and electric double layer capacitors, daily life-related materials, and medical fields.

The development of chemical production processes compatible with a sustainable society is an important research subject for the 21st century. This laboratory is working on the development of element technologies necessary for chemical production processes and the training of chemical engineers who can achieve this purpose. The research goal is to construct energy-saving and compact chemical production processes that are not constrained by conventional thermodynamic chemical equilibrium by highly integrating reaction and separation processes. We conduct research on functional separation materials such as separation membranes and the construction of reactive separation processes for this purpose.