Akira Isogai - Present situation of cellulose biorefinery in Japan

IMPACT Forum - Sustainability through innovative bio-based materials
April 25 2024
Akira Isogai, University of Tokyo, Japan
Present situation of cellulose biorefinery in Japan
Akira Isogai is a professor in the Department of Biomaterial Sciences at the University of Tokyo. His research activities extend from fundamentals to applications of cellulose, chitin, and other polysaccharides. Fundamental research themes include chemical and nano-structural studies on plant cells and plant components, e.g. cellulose and hemi-cellulose. Applied themes include investigations into the preparation, characterization, and utilization of new bio-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites, and the development of paper devices for medical/electronic applications. For further quantitative utilization of biomass materials in high-tech fields, and to establish a sustainable society using renewable resources, fundamental and applied studies of polysaccharides and related research projects are under development. These are based on a deep understanding of natural/synthetic polymers from the molecular- and nano-levels to bulk materials.