 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| July 8, 2002 |
|
| Startup of Joint Trials on a Pilot Plant Production of Carbon Nanofiber from Carbon Dioxide |
|
Shimadzu Corporation
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
|
Shimadzu Corporation and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation start joint trials of a carbon dioxide (CO2) immobilization technology, which convert carbon dioxide (immobilize) into carbon and water by reacting carbon dioxide with methane gas in the presence of a catalyst. Both companies will jointly develop a pilot plant (an annual capacity of 5 tons class) to affect field trials. Duration of trials will be a year. The CO2 immobilization technology aims at an emission-reduction of CO2, which is a dominant cause of a greenhouse effect, by effectively using organic wastes disposed through burning so far as the raw materials.
Additionally, technology development on the extraction of nanofibers of which the diameter is less than 100 nanometers in diameter (10-7 m) will be performed. The obtained nanofibers are expected to have various industrial applications.
Shimadzu targets to commercialize environmental action facilities by 2003 or 2004. Simultaneously, Mitsubishi Chemical will establish a production process technology of carbon nano materials, which production on a large scale was heretofore difficult, by utilization of carbon nanofibers contained in the produced carbons.
Technological Background
Development of the carbon dioxide immobilization technology was based on a joint fundamental research program between Shimadzu and Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) on a reaction process regarding immobilization of carbon dioxide from 1997 to 2000. In 1999, Shimadzu performed experiments jointly with Sapporo Breweries Ltd., with respect to effects of a biogas (a carbon dioxide-containing methane gas) on catalyst performances.
Shimadzu and Mitsubishi started research collaboration in 2000. The pilot plant trial is recognized as the final stage of product development process from laboratory level to commercialization.
Prospective Impacts
The impact of the technology is the utilization of biogas (methane gas/carbon dioxide) produced by microorganisms from organic wastes, in such places as food industries and waste disposable sites. Hydrogen is produced at a lower energy cost by a catalyst reaction and it is used to immobilize carbon dioxide in the biogas as carbon and water. Immobilized carbon can be used as an industrial resource, such as carbon nanofiber and hence the technology has received considerable attention as an effective recycle treatment method for organic wastes. Shimadzu, in cooperation with Mitsubishi Chemical Engineering Corporation who developed the pilot plant, plans upon a business deployment in close liaison with environmental equipment manufacturing corporations.
Mitsubishi Chemical has developed and commercialized various carbon materials such as carbon black and carbon fibers on the basis of years of expertise since the establishment in 1934. Mitsubishi Chemical gears toward having a competitive selection of carbon nanofibers responsive to future applications. Furthermore, establishment of the low cost and large commercialization-scale production of carbon nano materials shall be objected applying Mitsubishi Chemical's core technologies. Obtained carbon nanofibers shall be applied in such fields as conductive materials, resin reinforcement materials, functional pigments, electromagnetic wave-absorbent materials, electrode materials and the like.
Shimadzu Corporation and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation will present its technology in the international conference " Nanotube 2002", organized by the Association of Carbon Nanotube, in Boston, USA during July 6-11, 2002.
| For further information, please contact |
| Public Relations and Investor Relations Dept., |
| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
| Tel: [+81]-(0)3-3283-6274 |
|
|
<A pilot plant of a carbon dioxide (CO2) immobilization>
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
