Chiharu Tokoro

Title: Creation of a new resource circulation loop realized by diversity and new separation technology

Abstract:

The circular economy is attracting attention as a concept that combines environmental load reduction, such as carbon neutrality, with resource circulation. This concept aims to achieve a harmonious well-being of the economy, society, and the environment through various resource circulation loops, including sharing, maintenance, reuse, and recycling. To realize this goal, we need to have diverse values for products. In addition, diverse and varied separation technologies are necessary for products reclamation.
Based on this concept, the authors have been studying high-precision and energy-saving solid separation technologies to create a new resource circulation loop. For example, we have developed a high-precision and energy-saving separation technology for metallic particles, foils, and wires from a spent product without using chemicals or heating. These separation technologies are effective for separating metals from products such as lithium-ion batteries and solar panels, for which demand is expected to grow rapidly toward carbon neutrality, and we have confirmed that these technologies are advantageous from the LCA perspective.

Short biography:

Chiharu Tokoro, Professor, Dr. of Engineering, Waseda University/the University of Tokyo, Japan

Dr. Tokoro is received her PhD from the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Engineering. Currently, she is a professor at Waseda university and the University of Tokyo. Her research is focused on advanced separation technologies for resource circulation, especially mineral processing, chemical engineering, and powder processing for waste/wastewater treatment and recycling. She is the author of 16 books, over 150 articles, and more than 20 inventions. She is also a member of the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) and the Engineering Academy of Japan (EAJ). She has also fulfilled her duty as a Director or a leading position of several academic societies in Japan.