AWARDS
The 15th (2015) Green and Sustainable Chemistry Awards Winners
Awarded by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Development of High Performance Reverse Osmosis Membrane
Masahiro KIMURA, Takao SASAKI, Koji Nakatsuji, Harutoki SHIMURA and Jun OKABE
Toray Industries, Inc.
Innovative reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for water treatment were developed through precise interfacial polymerization, surface modification and control of polymer higher-order structure. The developed reverse osmosis membrane been adopted in many regions, it has contributed to the solution of the water problem. Since it enables stable water supply with high-quality for a variety of raw water, it is estimated that the energy consumption in use can be greatly reduced compared to the prior art.
Awarded by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Development of Separation and Reaction Processes for Natural and Environmental Materials Using Supercritical Fluid
Motonobu GOTO
Nagoya University
Supercritical fluid technology is regarded as a key technology in green sustainable chemistry. We have been investigating and developing separation and reaction processes using supercritical fluids. We have proposed novel separation processes such as supercritical pressure-swing adsorption process and hybrid extraction process using supercritical CO2 and liquid water. As a reaction solvent, supercritical water or alcohol was used for the treatment of toxic materials, conversion of biomass in biorefinery, or chemical recycling of waste plastics.
Awarded by the Minister of the Environment
Development of High Performance Reverse Osmosis Membrane
Masahiro KIMURA, Takao SASAKI, Koji Nakatsuji, Harutoki SHIMURA and Jun OKABE
Toray Industries, Inc.
Innovative reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for water treatment were developed through precise interfacial polymerization, surface modification and control of polymer higher-order structure. The developed reverse osmosis membrane been adopted in many regions, it has contributed to the solution of the water problem. Since it enables stable water supply with high-quality for a variety of raw water, it is estimated that the energy consumption in use can be greatly reduced compared to the prior art.
"Small Business Award" (Awarded to Venture Capitals/Small and Medium Enterprises)
The Development of the Safety Lancet made of the Biodegradable Polymer from Plant
(The Prospects of New Industry not to leave garbage for the Medical Device)
Mitsuo FUKUDA
Lightnix Inc.
So far, most of disposable medical devices have been made of petrochemical plastics and stainless steel.
We introduce the new sustained medical device made of Biodegradable Polymer, Polylactic Acid, along with the background of its development.
And then our design and the structure are constructed by the special Biomimetics.
Our Biomimetics’s way will makes up our good Quality of Life (QOL）and realizes Green Sustainable Chemistry (GSC).
"Small Business Award" (Awarded to Venture Capitals/Small and Medium Enterprises)
Technologies for Emulsifying Tackifier Resins and Application to Emulsion PSAs
Sumihisa ODA, Hirokazu UMEMIYA, Toshihiro KOBAYASHI, Toshiyuki KATTOU and Takehiko HAMADA
Saiden Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Saiden Chemical have developed a new method for emulsifying the tackifier resin by emulsion polymerization by dissolving the tackifier resin in the acrylic monomer. (Acrylic tackifier resin hybrid emulsion)
We can reduce the energy at the time of manufacture without the use of solvents in this way.
It has become possible to produce an acrylic emulsion type pressure-sensitive adhesive at a low cost by using the acrylic tackifier resin hybrid emulsion.
Incentive Award
Development of Manufacturing Process for Biomass-derived Phenol
Hiroyuki MIYAUCHI(*1),
Masayuki INUI(*2) and
Kazumi HIRAGA(*3)
(*1)Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., (*2)Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, (*3)Green Phenol Development Co., Ltd.
Production of plastics derived from biomass is drawing an attention toward realization of low environmental impact society. Phenol resin is one of the oldest plastic ever manufactured having history of 100 years and still continuing to develop, however the commercial phenol resin being exist only derived from petroleum by high energy consumption process. We developed world’s first manufacturing process of biomass-derived phenol with high energy efficiency and reduction of CO2 discharge.
Incentive Award
Oxide-based Anodes of Next-generation Rechargeable Batteries for Developing Low-carbon Society
Hiroyuki USUI
Tottori University
As anode materials of Li-ion battery (LIB) and Na-ion battery (NIB), electrochemical properties were investigated for a rutile-type Nb-doped TiO2 synthesized by a sol?gel method. The LIB anode performances were remarkably improved when the particle size and the crystallite size were 30 nm and 13 nm. It was revealed for the first time that rutile TiO2 can reversibly store Na+ into TiO2 lattice. This knowledge would be very valuable to develop low-cost oxide-based anodes for LIB/NIB, which contributes to the realization of the low-carbon society.
Incentive Award
Development of Inorganic Photo-functional Materials and Application for Environmental Purification, Biology, Agriculture and Production of Value-added Chemicals
Kazuya NAKATA
Tokyo University of Science
Novel photo-functional inorganic materials have been developed and applied for environmental purification, biology, agriculture and value-added chemicals production. Those materials are expected to contribute development of environmental-friendly and sustainable society.
Incentive Award
Lithium Recovery Technique from Seawater by using State-of-the-Art Dialysis with a Lithium Ionic Superconductor
Tsuyoshi HOSHINO
Japan Atomic Energy Agency
As a means of addressing global warming, the world is increasingly turning to the use of Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles and as storage batteries in the home; therefore, there is a growing need for Li. I developed an innovative method for recovering Li from seawater by using state-of-the-art dialysis, wherein Li only permeates from the negative electrode side to the positive electrode side through a Li ionic superconductor functioning as a Li separation membrane. It should be suitable for the recycling of used Li-ion batteries.