Zeolite is a key material for carbon neutrality

President of the Japan Zeolite Association

I am Satokawa from Seikei University, and will serve as the president of the Japan Zeolite Association for a two-year term starting in June 2024. I would like to further advance the path of creating an attractive society through industry-academia collaboration, which was promoted by the previous president, Dr. Takewaki of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, while promoting the development of young researchers and international cooperative relationships. Over the past two years, we have been discussing efforts toward carbon neutrality in lectures at research presentations and special features in our journal “Zeolite”. This effort is becoming increasingly important. We would like to create a place where we can work to solve each problem while considering the role that zeolite should play in the joint project between industry, government, and academia.

Last year was the first year in a long time that we were able to operate the society as usual. As a member involved in the operation of the society, I am very happy that we were able to hold all four main events, the forum, summer school, research presentation, and seminar, with many participants at the venue. I once again felt the gratitude for normal life. Meanwhile, the environment surrounding the world has changed greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global warming has come to be called the boiling of the earth, and the greenhouse gas emission reduction target has become very strict, aiming for net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. To achieve this, it is necessary to significantly remodel the social capital that has been used so far, and it is also expected that the form of energy import will change significantly. The government has also begun to develop laws to promote social implementation, such as the GX Promotion Act. Although 2050 is still a quarter century away, the social capital introduced as a climate change countermeasure needs to be created with even further in mind. In other words, the scientists and engineers are expected to make careful and bold proposals on how to answer the question of what technology will overcome this difficult situation.

Shigeo Satokawa

(Seikei University)

The breakthrough to solve such problems is the invention of new materials, new reactions, and new chemical processes. Looking back at the history of technology development, new technologies that were previously unforeseen have been born during periods of global transformation. The late Professor Tetsuo Takaishi, who supported the early days of zeolite science in Japan, said that the reason UK was able to turn around its disadvantage during World War II against Germany was because natural mordenite was used to improve the octane rating of gasoline. In other words, it seems that the usefulness of zeolite was discovered during World War II. After that, in the 1950s, when zeolite began to be produced industrially, its uses expanded widely to include catalysts, adsorbents, and ion exchangers. In particular, catalytic cracking catalysts for heavy oil are used in most gasoline production around the world. Major NOx decomposition catalysts in diesel vehicles are also made by zeolites. Currently, more than 70 years have passed since the industrialization of zeolite, interest in its materials and functions is expanding rapidly. It is expected that zeolite will be used in many elemental technologies related to carbon neutrality, such as DAC, water electrolysis, synthetic fuel, and methanol conversion.

I believe that all members are working on research and development related to the synthesis and use of various porous and layered materials, including zeolites. The research results of Japanese zeolite researchers are highly regarded internationally, and many researchers from overseas will participate in ZMPC2024, which will be held this year at Osaka, as well as the pre-symposium and post-school. We hope that all of you will take this opportunity to engage in international exchange of research information. Academic organizations are platforms that promote exchanges between many people, including universities and companies, and between Japan and overseas. I hope that these two years will be a good opportunity for me to act as a lubricant to ensure that your activities proceed smoothly. We look forward to working with you.