Biomedical subjects

Motonobu Goto

Publications and source records attributed to Motonobu Goto.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Supercritical methanol for polyethylene terephthalate depolymerization: observation using simulator.

To apply PET depolymerization in supercritical methanol to commercial recycling, the benefits of supercritical methanol usage in PET depolymerization was investigated from the viewpoint of the reaction rate and energy demands. PET was depolymerized in a batch reactor at 573 K in supercritical methanol under 14.7 MPa and in vapor methanol under 0.98 MPa in our previous work. The main products of both reactions were the PET monomers of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and ethylene glycol (EG). The rate of PET depolymerization in supercritical methanol was faster than that of PET depolymerization in vapor methanol. This indicates supercritical fluid is beneficial in reducing reaction time without the use of a catalyst. We depicted the simple process flow of PET depolymerization in supercritical methanol and in vapor methanol, and by simulation evaluated the total heat demand of each process. In this simulation, bis-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET) was used as a model component of PET. The total heat demand of PET depolymerization in supercritical methanol was 2.35 x 10(6)kJ/kmol Produced-DMT. That of PET depolymerization in vapor methanol was 2.84 x 10(6)kJ/kmol Produced-DMT. The smaller total heat demand of PET depolymerization in supercritical methanol clearly reveals the advantage of using supercritical fluid in terms of energy savings.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗

PubMed2006

Extraction of lycopene from tomato skin with supercritical carbon dioxide: effect of operating conditions and solubility analysis.

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) extraction of lycopene from waste tomato skins was investigated. The experiments were carried out at pressures and temperatures ranging from 20 to 50 MPa and 313 to 373 K, respectively, without any modifiers. The flow rate of CO2 was maintained at 2.5 mL/min for 330 min extraction time. Solvent flow rate effect was examined for CO2 flow rates from 1.5 to 4.5 mL/min. The extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and UV-visible spectroscopy. The results showed that with optimized operating conditions, the maximum yield of lycopene (1.18 mg of lycopene/g of sample) was obtained at 40 MPa, 373 K, and 2.5 mL of CO2/min. Chromatographic analysis indicated that lycopene was extracted from tomato skin with negligible degradation at the optimum conditions and the amount extracted represented more than 94% of the total carotenoid content of the sample. The solubility of lycopene was modeled by use of the Chrastil equation.

Carbon Dioxide↗

PubMed2006

Hydrothermal decomposition of yeast cells for production of proteins and amino acids.

This study examines hydrothermal decomposition of Baker's yeast cells, used as a model for spent Brewer's yeast waste, into protein and amino acids. The reaction was carried out in a closed batch reactor at various temperatures between 100 and 250 degrees C. The reaction products were separated into water-soluble and solid residue. The results demonstrated that the amount of yeast residue decreased with increasing hydrolysis temperature. After 20 min reaction in water at 250 degrees C, 78% of yeast was decomposed. The highest amount of protein produced was also obtained at this condition and was found to be 0.16 mg/mg dry yeast. The highest amount of amino acids (0.063 mg/mg dry yeast) was found at the lowest temperature tested after 15 min. The hydrolysis product obtained at 200 degrees C was tested as a nutrient source for yeast growth. The growth of yeast cells in the culture medium containing 2 w/v% of this product was comparable to that of the cells grown in the medium containing commercial yeast extract at the same concentration. These results demonstrated the feasibility of using subcritical water to potentially decompose proteinaceous waste such as spent Brewer's yeast while recovering more useful products.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2004

Combination of supercritical CO2 and vacuum distillation for the fractionation of bergamot oil.

Supercritical CO2 can be used to separate oxygenated compounds from essential oils. This technique still cannot replace vacuum distillation as an industrial process because of low recoveries and inconsistent results. In the present work, a comparison between the two methods was made in terms of composition, recovery, and color. Vacuum distillation and supercritical CO2 are complementary processes for producing high quality oxygenated compounds with high recovery rates. The former is more suitable for removing monoterpenes at low fraction temperatures (< or =308 K), and the latter is more suitable for separating oxygenated compounds from pigments and waxes. Consequently, the two methods were combined. For supercritical CO2 fractionation, the parameters of pressure, temperature gradient, and the ratio of solvent to feed were investigated for the fractionation of oxygenated compounds with high recoveries (> or =85%) and without other macromolecules, such as pigments and waxes.

Chemical Fractionation↗

PubMed2004

Hydrothermal conversion of municipal organic waste into resources.

Sub- and supercritical water have been focused on as an environmentally attractive reaction media where organic materials can be decomposed into smaller molecules. We applied a hydrothermal reaction in subcritical water to the treatment of rabbit food as a model municipal solid waste. The reaction was carried out in a batch reactor at the temperature range of 473-623 K or in a semi-continuous reactor with the temperature profile from 473 to 573 K. The liquid reaction products were separated into water-soluble and water-insoluble parts. The water-soluble part was analyzed in terms of glucose and organic acids. For the batch reactor, the largest amount of water-soluble component was approximately 50%. Major organic acids detected were acetic acid and lactic acid. The largest yields were 2.6% for acetic acid and 3.2% for lactic acid. The largest yield of glucose was 33% at 523 K. For the semi-continuous reactor, the glucose yields were 11.5%, 3.9% and 8.7% in each fraction obtained at 473, 523, and 573 K, respectively.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pressurized hot water extraction of anthraquinones from the roots of Morinda citrifolia.

This study examines pressurized hot water extraction of anthraquinones from dried roots of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). The effects of various operating conditions such as water temperature (110, 170, and 220 degrees C), and water flow rate (2, 4, and 6 mL min(-1)) on extraction yield and extraction rate were determined. At 220 degrees C, the extraction yield was the highest and was approximately 43.6 mg g(-1). Subcritical water extraction at 4 mL min(-1) or higher was found to be able to recover all the antraquinones present in the roots within 3 h of extraction, even at 170 degrees C. Pressure had no significant effect on the results for the range of temperatures studied. The flow rate of 6 mL min(-1) resulted in the highest extraction rate, but the extraction efficiency, as measured by the amount of anthraquinones extracted per unit volume of water was lower than that of 4 mL min(-1). Anthraquinones solubility in pressurized hot water was determined. The results indicate a presence of a mass transfer limitation in the extraction process from solid matrix.

Anthraquinones↗