Department of Applied Chemistry (Chair: Prof. M. Fukuhara)

The research areas in this department include studies on synthesis and properties of new functional materials, such as bioactive substances, superconductors, bioproducts, and new ceramics, and chemical engineering for production of such materials. Society is in strong need of scientists in these areas, who hold master's degrees, for development. Thus it is important for students that not only they acquire knowledge by attending classes, but also they learn how to develop the processes of production through experiments. Students are encouraged to read papers in meetings of specialists and to publish research papers in journals. After finishing the program, some students continue to study for the master's degree.

The structure and properties of natural and synthesized inorganic materials are examined. New materials are developed and their applications are researched.

We are active in the following fielda: synthesis of bioactive compounds, organic synthesis by means of catalytic reaction, asymmetric synthesis, organosulfur chemistry and organometallic chemistry.

Genetic analysis of microbial functions and its application.

• Genetical and enzymatical studies on microbiol degradation of polyaromatics, chlorinated phenols, poly(vinyl alcohol), and polyethyleneglycols, and their application for bioremediation of the polluted environment.
• Genetical and enzymatical studies on an acid phosphatase of Aspergillus strains.

1. Interactions of Surfactants with Proteins and Synthetic Polypeptides

2. Conformational Changes of Proteins and Polypeptides in Aqueous Surfactant Solutions or in Reverse Micelles

3. Fragmentation of Proteins and Determination of Structures of the Fragments or Modified Proteins

4. Structural Changes of Proteins and Peptides by the Light Irradiation

5. Polymer-Polymer Interaction

Studies on the Reaource Development Chemistry in Environmental Chemistry. New analytical method is being developed by meana of analytical method and electroanalytical chemistry.

Studies on Reactor Engineering by using Technique of Physical Chemistry.

Studies on Fluid Flow and Mass Transfer Characteristics in Gas-Liquid and Gas-Liquid-Solid Contacting Devices

Diffusion process and biomolecular fluorescence quenching reaction are used to examine dynamic properties of solutions. Equilibrium properties of solutions are also studied using several techniques.

A) Numerical Computation

New scheme for Boundary Element Method

Application of Finite Element Method for Transport Phenomena

Computation of transport phenomena by Finite Difference Method

Computation of fluid flow and heat transfer of rarefied gas by Direct

Simulation Monte Carlo method

B) Experimental Study

Fluid flow and mass transfer of the extraction process

Microscopic transport phenomena of rarefied gas

Lab. for Organometallic Chemistry (Prof. J. Otera and Assoc. Prof. A. Orita)

Synthesis of functional materials and natural products by exploiting new synthetic methods using organometallic catalysts.