Researcher List

Laboratories in Department of Environmental Engineering

Cycle Infrastructure Engineering Lab
Prof. Nobuhisa WATANABE

Electric tube furnace and gas sampling system for thermochemical decomposition of waste and hazardous chemicals
Electric tube furnace and gas sampling system for thermochemical decomposition of waste and hazardous chemicals

Cycle infrastructure engineering is an integrated technology for sustainability of nature involving human society. Material cycles and energy conversion acceptable to the province of nature are sought using measurement technique, mass and energy control, and environmental thermodynamics.

Main Research Topics

  • Elemental behavior in material cycle and energy conversion
  • Environmental fate of chemicals and environmental thermodynamics

Urban Water Metabolic System Lab
Prof. Shinsuke KASAHARA

Air-backwashing in a Rapid Sand Filter
Air-backwashing in a Rapid Sand Filter

Our research field covers water quality conversion and control technologies that are comprehensively applied to water supplies as well as sewage treatment. The aim is to optimize water metabolism from the point of view of quality and quantity, so that both human health and an ecological healthy water environment are achieved and sustained.

Main Research Topics

  • Development of a novel filtration system using a compact filter packed with super fine silica sands
  • Optimization of flash mixing processes for two-step coagulation in water purification systems

Biocycle Lab
Prof. Yasunori KOSAKI

Nano carbons can be expected as advanced functional materials

We deal with wastewater and solid waste discharged from households and industries with a view of recycle and energy produce. In this laboratory, improvement of reactor utilizing microorganism’s ability are being studied.

Main Research Topics

Meteorology of Biosphere Environment Lab
Prof. Naru TAKAYAMA

Quantitative evaluation of solar thermal load mitigation by wall greening
Quantitative evaluation of solar thermal load mitigation by wall greening

The biosphere is where living creatures exist, all ecosystems on the planet. From the standpoint of meteorology, we are studying some topics, a heat-island phenomenon, desertification, rainfall disaster and so on, environmental problems which occur in the relation between human activities and ecosystem.

Main Research Topics

  • Research on heat-islands and how to mitigate their effects by deploying urban greening
  • Themes associated with semi-arid land climates, and desertification remedies

Bio-Environmental Sciences Lab
Associate Prof. Koji KAWAMURA

Microscopic view of a hydrocarbon-producing microalga, Botryococcus braunii.
Microscopic view of a hydrocarbon-producing microalga, Botryococcus braunii.

We focus on the potential of biological resources and systems for resolving a range of environmental problems, such as global warming, depletion of fossil fuel, and loss of biodiversity. This involves the search for novel genetic resources of oil-producing microalgae as carbon-neutral biofuel feedstocks and the study of their optimal culture conditions.

Main Research Topics

  • Search for novel genetic resources of oil-producing microalgae
  • Revegetation technique with natural seedbanks for conservation of biodiversity

Advanced Materials Lab
Associate Prof. Satoshi HEGURI

Nano carbons can be expected as advanced functional materials
Nano carbons can be expected as advanced functional materials.

We are aiming to create novel function materials by using carbon based materials, and establish a milestone toward achieving of sustainable society. Our findings can be expected to provide a solution to global energy issues.

Main Research Topics

  • Synthesis of novel functional materials using new design concept
  • Search for superconductivity
  • Creation of thermoelectric conversion, ionic conduction and giant coercive force using molecular solids
  • Tuning of the ground states in nano carbons

Water & Resource Circulation Engineering Lab
Associate Prof. Taketoshi KUSAKABE

Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa

The two main research interests of our laboratory are (i) aquatic environment & water/wastewater treatments and (ii) waste management & resource recycling.

(i) Dissolved organic matter (DOM) ubiquitously occurs in the aquatic environment and plays crucial roles in the aquatic microbial ecosystem and carbon cycling. Our research interest is a microbial loop and microbial carbon pump in the Lake Biwa-Yodo River-Osaka Bay watershed, which is one of the largest watersheds in Japan. How does DOM affect water/wastewater treatment processes (e.g., ozonation, UF/NF/RO, etc.)? We are conducting research to elucidate these questions at the engineering and molecular level based upon EEM-PARAFAC and Omics approach (Orbitrap mass spectrometry, NGS, etc.).

(ii) The entry into force of the Minamata Convention on Mercury changes the supply-demand balance and leads in an excess mercury in the world. We have developed the long-term management technology for mercury wastes based upon sulfurization and solidification with a thermoset resin, epoxy resin. We are evaluating the long-term stability (ca. 500 years) of the sulfurized, solidified mercury wastes with modified sulfur, epoxy resin, and low-alkalinity cement by a serial batch leaching tests for an environmentally-sound management.

Main Research Topics

  • Long-term management technologies for mercury wastes
  • Scientific understanding on DOM in the aquatic environment
  • Effects of DOM upon water/wastewater treatment processes

Thermal Energy Engineering Lab
Assistant Prof. Kakeru KAGATA

Thermal Energy Engineering Lab

We are studying thermal energy from various point of view. The research covers a heat transfer, energy consumption, measurement technology using energy conversion, which can contribute to make our society sustainable.

Main Research Topics

  • Optimization of energy consumption in plant growth factory
  • Non-destructive measurement using "Photoacoustic method" and "Periodic heating lock-in thermography"

Environmental Preservation Engineering Lab
Assistant Prof. Takanori AWATA

Environmental Preservation Engineering Lab

We focus on the technology for the environmental preservation. Especially, biological processes for wastewater treatment with less energy consumption and for generation of ammonium from nitrogen gas would contribute the realization of sustainable society.

Main Research Topics

  • Biological wastewater treatment
  • Research about greenhouse gas emission from WWTPs
  • Generation of valuable resources using bioelectrochemical system