Atmospheric Environmental Protection Department

Air quality must still be improved in major urban areas where population and industry are concentrated. The quality of the atmospheric environment is also deteriorating on a global scale. This department is developing systems for the assessment and control of air pollution hazards. Research is conducted in the department's three divisions.

Excited State Chemistry Division

This division studies reaction mechanisms and newly developed physical and chemical methods for utilizing excited-state compounds in the global environment.
Current research includes:

• Decomposition mechanisms in plasma of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and bromine containing organic compounds.
• Photochemical reactions of carbonyl compounds.
• Characterization and photochemical reactions of organic compounds in aerosols.
• Characterization of aerosols in polar stratospheric clouds and reactions among halogen reservior molecules therein.
• Destruction by solar light of poly-cyclic aromatic compounds fallen onto the surface of the ground.
• Synthesis of biomimetic catalysts for reduction of N₂O.
• Decomposition of flame-resistant macromolecular organic materials.

Environmental Technology Division

This division aims at reducing local and global environmental problems in the atmosphere, and conducts research on emission reduction technologies for substances that affect the atmosphere.
Current research activities include:

• Catalysis for reduction of NOx from diesel powered automobile exhaust.
• Cyclodextrin process for capturing halogenated hydrocarbons.
• Adsoprtion and plasma decomposition of hazardous air pollutants.
• Catalytic and plasma decomposition, and utilization of methane.

Air Quality Measurement Division

As regulations governing the level of pollution in the atmosphere become more strict, the need for increasingly accurate measuring instruments becomes apparent.
This division's studies include:

• Estimation and measurement of anthropogenic source dust in suspended particulate matter in the atmosphere.
• Identification of emission sources and measurement of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter.
• Development of analytical methods for measuring concentrations and stable isotopic composition of new pollutants.
• Estimation and measurement of automobile emission pollutants.

List Page

Global Warming Control Department

Thermal Energy and Combustion Engineering Department

Atmospheric Environmental Protection Department

Hydrospheric Environmental Protection Department

Environmental Assessment Department

Energy Resources Department

Materials Processing Department

Geotechnology Department

Safety Engineering Department

Coal Mine Safety Research Center, Hokkaido

Coal Mine Safety Research Center, Kyushu