AWARDS
The 16th (2016) Green and Sustainable Chemistry Awards Winners
Awarded by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Development of the Paper-based Casting Runner
Yoshiyuki KIBE(*1), Haruki IKENAGA(*1), Tokuo TSUURA(*2), Toshihiko MORI(*1) and Nobushige TANAKA(*1)
(*1)Kao Corporation, (*2)Kao-Quaker Co., ltd.
Kao Corporation developed the paper-based casting runner by using two key technologies. One is the complicated 3D pulp-molding technique, and the other is the composite technology which supports various functional powders to fibril of the pulp. This paper-based casting runner has improved not only the workability, working environment but also the effect on the environment. Especially, it can reduce drastically the consumption energy at the time of manufacture and the waste volume after use. We would like to contribute to sustainable society by developing new technology of mastering recyclable raw materials.
Awarded by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Creation of Novel Plant Growth Regulators using Fairy Compounds
Hirokazu KAWAGISHI
Shizuoka University
2-Azahypoxanthine (AHX) and imidazole-4-carboxamide (ICA) were isolated from a fairy-ring forming fungus Lepista sordida. AHX was converted into a common metabolite, 2-aza-8-oxohypoxanthine (AOH), in plants. Afterward, it turned out that these three compounds, fairy chemicals (FSc), endogenously exist in plants and are biosynthesized via a new purine metabolic pathway. Furthermore, FCs increased the yields of rice, wheat and other crops in the field and/or greenhouse experiments.
Awarded by the Minister of the Environment
Innovative Toner Technology for High Image Quality with Low Environmental Impact
Akihiro IIDZUKA, Shuji SATO, Masanobu NINOMIYA, Takashi HARA and Noriyuki MIZUTANI
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
EA-Eco Toner has been developed for further high image quality and further low energy consumption. By the combination of emulsion aggregation process and sharp melting polyester, EA-Eco toner enables Super low fixing temperature, which is over 30 degrees Celsius lower than conventional grinding toner, with better storage stability. EA-Eco Toner technology can consistently achieve lower environmental impact in every aspect of toner production, toner consumption, electric energy consumption and waste toner.
"Small Business Award" (Awarded to Venture Capitals/Small and Medium Enterprises)
Environmental Solutions by PACT Device
I'mPact World Ltd.
Chemical characteristics of novel chemical reactor named PACT (Plasma Assisted Catalytic Technology) has been investigated to decompose various hazardous gases, or to reform C3 chemistry, or to synthesize new materials. The concept of above reactor is the synergistic effect between plasma excitation and catalyst activation, which is effective for various applications, especially for Green Sustainable Chemistry (GSC). We are now focusing on Pandemic issues by using PACT device.
Incetive Award
Practical Use of the World's First Veersatile Transparent Insulation Material "SUFA"
Masahiro YAMAJI
Tiem Factory Inc.
SUFA (SUper Functional Air) is a kind of aerogels, which has extremely low heat conductivity, ultra-lightweight, and high transparency. Aerogels are developed by NASA in the 1990s for the usage in cosmic space, but because the cost was too expensive, aerogels has not been distributed in the market. Our company invented a new production method of aerogels without using supercritical drying method, and the cost becomes 1/60 compared to other company’s aerogels.
Incetive Award
Development of Acrylic Acid Production Process with Less Environmental Impact
Xinlin TU, Masao NIWA, Eiichi OKAZAKI, Soichi NOMURA and Kiyoo YAMASHITA
Toagosei Co., Ltd.
Aiming at the realization of a new production process for acrylic acid by one-step oxidation of propane, we demonstrated as high as 65% of acrylic acid yield in a pilot plant based on newly improved catalysts, and optimized the reaction and downstream processes. Besides the economic merit using abundant propane resource, the new process has advantages of 32% lower CO2 emissions and less environmental impact, comparing to current production process by two-step oxidation with naphtha-derived propylene as raw material.
Incetive Award
Construction of New Concept for Designing Rechargeable Battery Based on Analysis of Electrode/Electrolyte Interface
Taketoshi MINATO
Kyoto University
Interest in the technology of energy storage systems increased after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Among energy storage devices, the rechargeable battery is the most widely used device owing to its high energy density as a mobile power source. To accommodate the recent demand for applications in electric vehicles or factories, improving the performance of the rechargeable battery is strongly required. It is widely accepted that the physical properties and chemical reactions at the interface between the electrode and electrolyte (electrode/electrolyte interface) strongly affect the performance of the rechargeable battery. However, owing to the difficulty of analytical methods for the buried interface, the physical properties and chemical reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface are not well understood. We have been clarified the physical properties and chemical reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface by using scanning probe microscopy and synchrotron X-rays and neutron analysis. Based on the results, new concepts to improve the performance of rechargeable battery have been proposed.
Incetive Award
Development of Hydrate-melt Electrolytes for High-voltage Aqueous Batteries
Yuki YAMADA
The University of Tokyo
Aqueous Li-ion batteries are attracting increasing attention as a safe energy-storage device using non-flammable aqueous electrolytes. However, their low operation voltage is problematic for their future widespread application. Here, we report a room-temperature hydrate melt of Li salts as a new class of stable aqueous electrolyte. The hydrate-melt electrolyte shows a wide potential window over 3 V, which paves a way toward high-voltage aqueous Li-ion batteries.