Daicel Corporation held a booth exhibition at the Science Castle Kansai Conference held at Meisei Junior High School and Meisei Senior High School in Meisei Gakuen, Osaka on December 17, 2023.

Forests cover about 70% of Japan's land area. The trees are over 50 years old and CO₂Many trees that have become difficult to absorb are left unattended. Daicel is actively using forest trees as an alternative and complement to petrochemical raw materials, while reducing CO2 emissions by liquefying wood that is difficult to dissolve at room temperature with less environmental impact, or by dissolving certain components and extracting only the cellulose.₂and the soil's ability to retain water, and to revitalize the local economy through the circulation of industrial resources. We also believe that this circulation will lead to solutions to various social issues,Biomass Value Chain Concept　As a result, we aim to realize a recycling-oriented industrial structure.

Biomass Value Chain Concept

At the booth on the day, under the theme of "Can we "solve" such problems with "wood-milling" technology?　Daicel introduced its biomass value chain concept, which promotes solutions to various social issues using "tree-skimming" technology, one of the company's strengths. In the introduction of the "wood-milling" technology, he showed that it can dissolve wood at the temperature of a bath using chemicals, and can even selectively dissolve components, and that it can produce a variety of wood-derived materials, including prototype films with magnetic functions and fine fibers and sheets. In addition, the participants were able to see and feel the potential of wood through the use of the "wood combing" technology.

Just as the character for "tree" is hidden within the word "future," the future is carried by "trees. The students who visited the booth were asked to think about what they could do and what kind of future they could create by "combing the trees" and to freely write their ideas on sticky notes and attach them to the branches. The students were then free to write their ideas on sticky notes and attach them to the branches.

Mirai Tree (Future Tree) filled with ideas

Students learn about the technique of combing wood, and while looking at the actual products, come up with their own ideas.

Many innovative ideas were presented, ranging from those that added convenience, such as water-resistant paper and reusable plastic wrap, to those that added value, such as a mechanical pencil that emits a fragrance each time it is used and relaxes the user. At the same time, the participants seemed to be expressing their ideas and asking questions with great interest by overlapping them with their own research and the issues they are facing in their daily lives.

<Outline of implementation

Date: Sunday, December 17, 2023
Place: Science Castle Kansai Conference Poster and Booth
Address: Osaka Meisei Gakuen Meisei Junior High School and Meisei Senior High School
(5-44, Feedsamachi, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City, Osaka, 543-0016, Japan)
Time: 14:00-16:50
The booth will introduce the "wood combing" technology being researched at the Biomass Innovation Center, Daicel Corporation, and invite ideas for the future that we would like to achieve through research and development.

〜Booth Introduction Summary Text
What do you think of when you hear the word "combing" wood? Melting? Melting? Melting? What exactly does it mean to "melt" wood? The true meaning will be revealed at the booth. Daicel aims to create products that enrich people's lives and create a society where people and the earth are happy by using this "wood-melting" technology. The possibilities of what can be done by "grazing" wood are still expanding. Let's create the future together by "grazing" trees! We are looking forward to hearing your ideas.

Contact Us
Liberness Corporation, Educational Development Division [email protected] (Hanazato)