{"id":3774,"date":"2026-04-03T09:47:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/?post_type=teks-case&#038;p=3774"},"modified":"2026-04-03T09:47:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:47:10","slug":"%e6%9c%aa%e5%88%a9%e7%94%a8%e7%b3%bb%e3%83%90%e3%82%a4%e3%82%aa%e3%83%9e%e3%82%b9%e8%b3%87%e6%ba%90%e3%82%92%e7%94%a8%e3%81%84%e3%81%9f%e3%83%86%e3%83%ac%e3%83%95%e3%82%bf%e3%83%ab%e9%85%b8%e3%81%8a","status":"publish","type":"teks-case","link":"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/en\/teks-case\/%e6%9c%aa%e5%88%a9%e7%94%a8%e7%b3%bb%e3%83%90%e3%82%a4%e3%82%aa%e3%83%9e%e3%82%b9%e8%b3%87%e6%ba%90%e3%82%92%e7%94%a8%e3%81%84%e3%81%9f%e3%83%86%e3%83%ac%e3%83%95%e3%82%bf%e3%83%ab%e9%85%b8%e3%81%8a\/","title":{"rendered":"Production of Terephthalic Acid and Polyesters from Unused Biomass Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1785\" src=\"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/\u795e\u5948\u5ddd\u5de5\u79d1\u5927\u5b66.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"190\" height=\"43\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(149,221,208,.12);\">\n<p>Selection Year: FY2021<\/p>\n<p>Project Title: Commercialization of Terephthalic Acid and Polyester Production Technologies from Unused Biomass Resources for the Revitalization of Agriculture and Forestry<\/p>\n<p>Principal Investigator: Seiji Nakagame, Associate Professor, Kanagawa Institute of Technology<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Background<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><u><b>Importance and Challenges of Utilizing Unused Biomass Resources<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">As efforts to mitigate global warming intensify, there is a growing demand to reduce CO\u2082 emissions, and the importance of utilizing renewable biomass resources is expected to increase accordingly. However, many non-edible biomass resources are currently used primarily for energy purposes, such as heat generation and power production. Technologies that convert the components of biomass into valuable substances and use them as alternatives to fossil resource\u2013derived compounds\u2014so-called material utilization technologies\u2014remain largely at the research and development stage.<br \/>\nWorldwide, research and development efforts are underway to shift the production of terephthalic acid, a key raw material for polyesters, from fossil resources to biomass resources. Nevertheless, these approaches face challenges, including the need for large amounts of energy and chemical reagents. In addition, the complexity of the manufacturing processes often results in high capital costs due to the large number of processing steps involved. We are developing technologies that have the potential to address and overcome these challenges.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Overview of the Project<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><u><b>Working to replace fossil resource\u2013derived materials through the utilization of unused biomass resources<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">The technology currently being developed under this Program involves the production of terephthalic acid through a fermentation process using microorganisms that produce p-tolualdehyde, an intermediate precursor of terephthalic acid. Because this approach employs biological methods, terephthalic acid can be manufactured under mild conditions, which is expected to lead to a reduction in energy consumption during production.<br \/>\nIn addition, p-tolualdehyde can be produced in a single step from sugars derived from biomass resources, making it possible to reduce the number of process steps required for terephthalic acid production and potentially lower capital costs. By utilizing unused biomass resources as raw materials for terephthalic acid, we also aim to contribute to the revitalization of rural communities.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Future Outlook<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><u><b>Aiming to commercialize initiatives that contribute to mitigating global warming and revitalizing rural communities<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">To further advance the commercialization of our ongoing efforts in the production of terephthalic acid and polyesters from unused biomass resources, we are accumulating fundamental knowledge while also examining scale-up possibilities and developing concrete business models. We will continue to work diligently toward commercialization that contributes to mitigating global warming and revitalizing ru<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b><strong>About the Program<\/strong><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><u><b>Comprehensive hands-on support provided by highly specialized professionals is a key attraction<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">I applied to this Program based on the perspective of identifying what type of project would be most suitable for bringing my research into practical application within the shortest possible timeframe. One of the most compelling aspects of this Program is the richness of its hands-on support.<br \/>\nFor example, project managers and candidates for executive leadership roles who are actively working at the forefront of various industries work closely with us to consider and propose optimal approaches for translating the perspectives essential for commercialization, significantly broadening our outlook as we move toward bringing our research to market.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b><strong>Message<\/strong><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">We welcome researchers, engineers, and students who are interested in working with us on this research and aiming for its practical application, as well as companies that have an interest in the research content, to contact us.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2524 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/\u56f31.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1637\" height=\"568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/\u56f31.png 1637w, https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/\u56f31-300x104.png 300w, https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/\u56f31-1024x355.png 1024w, https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/\u56f31-768x266.png 768w, https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/\u56f31-1536x533.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1637px) 100vw, 1637px\" \/>A Framework for Producing Polyesters from Unused Resources<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2523,"template":"","categories":[6,7],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/teks-case\/3774"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/teks-case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/teks-case"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agrifoodsbir.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}