〓 Research Area : Solid Waste Management and Recycling

Study on anthropogenic mercury releases for the evaluationof the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
The combination of anthropogenic activities and long-term atmospheric transport
has resulted in a sustained increase in global mercury concentrations in air, inwater and on land. The Minamata Convention on Mercury (MCM), is a global treaty
with the goal of protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic
releases of mercury. This study aimed to quantify the mercury inputs and outputs
in China in 2016–2019 according to source category and investigate the effect ofscenario/technology transformation required by the MCM on the subsequent distribution of mercury among environmental and intermediate reservoirs. This is thefirst attempt to provide a systematic evaluation of the validity of the MCM. As theMCM moves into the implementation phase, further information from scientific dataand studies is critically needed to support decision-making and management. The
results of this study can provide such information, facilitating the creation of strategic management policies for mercury as the MCM is implemented.

Feasibility Study of Biomass Waste Recycling Systemin University Campus〓 Asst. Prof.
HABUER

Okayama University has an expansive campus in Japan and generates much biomass that is usually disposed of byoutsourcing waste treatment to private companies. The university
should tackle reducing and recycling waste within the campus asa regional society member to establish a sound material-cycle society. We evaluated the potential to recycle the biomass waste on
the campus by first measuring or estimating the amount of biomass
waste generated almost through a year. Secondly, we conductedfeasibility studies such as analysis of methane gas and compost
production, power consumption, and CO2 emission of a methane
fermentation facility and a composting facility.
Biomass Recycling Facility Process Flowin Campus〓 Research Area : Environmental Measurement and Control

Assessing the fate of chemicals in the environment
and engineered processes
Concentration changes and dynamics of environmental
chemicals are predicted and evaluated based on partition
equilibrium properties of chemical compounds and theirconversion/degradation kinetics. The target compounds areorganohalogen compounds, PAHs, and other emerging pollutants. The target engineering processes include water treatment and gas cleaning, and solid/liquid waste treatment insuch environmental media as water, air, soil, and sediment.

Safe and appropriate disposal treatment of waste water, flue gas, and solid/liquid
waste, and developing further technology for recovering materials/energy from waste
Various exhausts, such as wastewater, flue gas, andother anthropogenic waste emissions should be appropriately and safely disposed. Currently, material andenergy recovery is highly desired in the context of establishing a sound material recycling society.

〓 Prof.
KAWAMOTO KatsuyaBecause energy recovery from waste treatment plays a
key role in eliminating fossil fuel use and GHG emissions,research and development corresponding to the type andproperties of waste are performed. Safety assessments ofthe systems are also conducted.
Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University37