研究分野 Research
研究室の狙い Aim
We strive to maintain our status as an internationally renowned leading research group working on various topics related to chemical engineering, most specifically on the areas of reaction and separation science and technologies.Our research interests are diverse focusing mainly on many aspects of sub and supercritical fluid technologies and their applications to:
- effective utilization of biomass
- bioresources recovery
- chemical recycling and
- development of energy-saving processes.
Many promising techniques are also being incorporated to enhance rates of reaction and separation, including the use of:
- pulsed power (plasma and laser)
- electrolysis and
- microwave
We exert our best efforts to be “Number One” and “Only One” in these various research endeavors.
概要 Outline
Supercritical fluid technology has been extensively developed during the past two decades
due to its unique properties that differ significantly from those of either gas or liquid under normal conditions.
Properties of fluid in its supercritical state can be easily adjusted from gas-like to liquid-like, or vice-versa,
by simply manipulating the temperature and pressure. Due to these unique characteristics,
supercritical fluid could be utilized as a promising solvent for separation and reaction processes.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water, being environmentally benign and generally regarded as safe, have attracted much
attention as fluids of choice for wide varieties of applications.
CO2 has an easily accessible critical temperature and pressure of 31.1 ℃ and 7.38 MPa,
respectively. It can be recycled, and its use in chemical processes could minimize greenhouse effects to the
atmosphere. It is also inexpensive, non-flammable, and nontoxic, making it an attractive solvent for large-scale
processes including polymer synthesis.
Water has higher critical temperature of 374 ℃ and pressure of 22.1 MPa.
Water near its critical point possesses properties very different from those at ambient conditions.
The dielectric constants at high-temperature and high-pressure conditions are much lower,
thus it behaves like organic solvents. Most organic compounds are highly soluble in near-critical water,
and have complete miscibility with supercritical water (SCW). In addition, the ionic constant is high,
thus it also serves as a catalyst for some organic reactions.
Our laboratory explores the science and technology of these two “green” fluids and their applications
to extraction of valuable compounds from natural products, fractionation of essential oils,
biomass decomposition and bitumen upgrading to name a few.
Moreover, techniques such as the use of pulsed power, electrolysis and microwave are also being incorporated
to enhance rates of reaction and separation under the above mentioned supercritical fluids.
Pulsed power is the term used to describe the science and technology of accumulating energy over
a relatively long period of time and releasing it very quickly thus increasing
the instantaneous power. Pulsed power technology is commonly used in radar, particle
accelerators, ultra-strong magnetic
fields, fusion research, electromagnetic
pulses, and high power pulsed lasers.
Due to high power produced, pulsed power could enhance efficiency of reaction when applied in supercritical
fluids.
In our recent works, application of pulsed power in supercritical
fluids has been developed for reaction and material synthesis. Pulsed discharge
plasma was also applied to synthesis of aromatic compounds in supercritical
CO2 and argon, and sub-critical water. Pulsed laser ablation in supercritical
CO2 was also developed for fabricating metal nanomaterials.
主要研究テーマ（概説）Main Research Themes
研究室所有の設備 Experimental Apparatuses
教育分野 Education
超・亜臨界流体を用いた研究に関する安全教育
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超・亜臨界流体工学に関する講義資料(学内限定)
「分離工学特論」（H22年度博士前期課程, 前学期, 後藤元信教授）の講義資料です.後藤研究室の紹介資料 Introduction of Goto Laboratory (学内限定)
後藤研究室オリエンテーション資料 Orientation of Goto Laboratory (学内限定)
