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Energy Ecosystem Lab
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The lab takes on the chemistry of efficiently producing fuels and chemicals from biomass such as wood.
AboutAbout the lab
Toward a circular society built on biomass
The Energy Ecosystem Lab conducts research on efficiently producing energy and chemicals from biomass.
The amount of biomass produced on land each year is 4 to 5 times the world's primary energy demand.
The lab aims to realize a circular society based on biomass in place of fossil resources.
Undergraduate students join the lab in their fourth year in the Department of Forest Science (graduate students belong to the Department of Socio-Environmental Energy Science, Graduate School of Energy Science).
Key terms
- Pyrolysis
- Breaking a substance down into smaller molecules by applying heat in the absence of oxygen
- Bio-oil
- A liquid fuel and chemical feedstock obtained by rapid pyrolysis of biomass
- Plasma
- A state in which a gas is given strong energy so that electrons, ions, and other particles move freely
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies how to convert woody biomass into fuels and chemicals by decomposing it with heat, supercritical fluids, plasma, and other means. By clarifying reaction mechanisms at the molecular level, it works toward proposing efficient conversion technologies.
*Illustrative imageUnderstanding pyrolysis mechanisms at the molecular level
Pyrolysis underlies gasification, bio-oil production, and carbonization, but its reactions are complex and it has long been treated as a black box. The lab aims to elucidate the process at the molecular level from an organic chemistry perspective and to control the reactions.
*Illustrative imageProducing bio-oil by fast pyrolysis
Fast pyrolysis rapidly heats biomass and immediately cools the components that are released, converting it into liquid bio-oil. The lab addresses problems such as bio-oil degrading and solidifying, building on its findings about pyrolysis mechanisms.
*Illustrative imageClean and efficient gasification
Gasifying biomass enables efficient power generation, and fuels and other products can be synthesized from the resulting gas. The lab addresses issues such as tar that clogs pipes, based on molecular-level understanding of pyrolysis and gasification mechanisms.
*Illustrative imageDecomposing biomass with plasma
It is known that decomposing biomass in low-temperature plasma can gasify it into carbon monoxide and hydrogen without leaving solid or liquid residues. This is basic research aimed at applications in various processes, including pyrolytic gasification.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Energy Ecosystem Lab consist of faculty, project researchers, secretaries, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students (including international students).
- ProfessorHaruo Kawamoto
- Associate ProfessorEiji Minami
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Wood chips from encroacher bush ready for industrial use” GIZ Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Understanding pyrolysis mechanisms at the molecular level: “Pyrolysis machine in process at Vigyan Ashram” Komal Sambhudas / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Producing bio-oil by fast pyrolysis: “Renewable-H2 and activated charcoal production process from biomass pyrolysis” Rey, José Ramón Copa, Cecilia Mateos-Pedrero, Andrei Longo, Bruna Rijo, Paulo Brito, Paulo Ferreira, and Catarina Nobre. / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Clean and efficient gasification: “Fluidized bed biomass gasification plant - Front wiew” Carvarsa / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Decomposing biomass with plasma: “Plasma-filaments” The original uploader was Iantresman at English Wikipedia. / CC BY 2.5 (cropped)
- Related lab (複合材料化学): “Cellulose structure” Vicente Neto / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生物繊維学): “Cellulose polymer” Vicente Neto / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生物材料化学): “Pine log cross-sections, Teutendorf” Radomianin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (森林生化学): “Wood decay fungus” Sindugab / CC0 (cropped)
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