TITLE	Development of a Recycling System using Carbon Resources from Waste Cuttings Arising from the Maintenance of Palm Tree Plantations (Joint Program to Promote Technological Development with the Private Sectors)
AUTHOR	RITE-DAITO NO.2 LABORATORY in MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. MOTOR COMPANY
SOURCE
ABSTRACT	Motors consume half of the total electricity demand in Japan. Therefore, not only reductions in the amount of CO2 exhausted through the development of high efficiency motors but also environmentally friendly motor materials are required. Consequently, we are carrying out the following three activities to ensure the effective use of large amounts of waste leaves and trunks generated in large-scale palm oil plantations in Malaysia, as a carbon resource. (1) The development of polymers made from plants and easily decomposable compounds using these polymers. 　We have developed plant-derived heat-resistant thermosetting polymers from lignin obtained through the decomposition of waste leaves and trunks. We have also developed compounds for molded motors which are easily degradable under specific conditions by adding fillers to these polymers. In 2006, as a form of pretreatment, the crushing conditions using a crushing machine were examined as a pretreatment, and a condition was established to obtain powder particle of which average size was 140 μm at the processing rate of 1.4 kg/h. In addition, the machine that is capable of being continuously able to decomposing the crushed powder by using subcritical or supercritical water was introduced and set up. We tried to perform decomposition of the crushed powder with a batch of treatment, and began an examination to establish the analysis conditions by using a newly introduced LC/MS system. In the future, the analytical methods and the conditions will be established, and polymerizing methods for plant-derived polymers will be examined through the analysis of the functional groups. (2) The development of three -dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNT) On pyrolytically decomposing palm oil in the presence of an iron catalyst, carbon nanotubes possessing branched nanomatrix structures can be prepared. These CNTs will be added to brushes made of graphite in order to develop efficient and long-life brushes for cleaner motors. In 2006, the entrance part of the raw material and the exit part of the CNT were improved in cooperation with the machine manufacturer, and the CNT generation machine was introduced. The optimization of the mixture conditions and electroconductivity was tested using the minute diameter type CNT with a high aspect ratio that was manufactured by a CNT manufacturer, but the results were insufficient. In the future, the CNT will be made by using the CNT generation machine, and the brushes containing the CNT will be manufactured and evaluated. (3) The development of carbon ceramics An amorphous carbon with a porous structure will be developed by mixing phenolic resin with crushed waste leaves and trunks, and employing molding and annealing. Slide bearings with little sliding loss will be developed by soaking the amorphous carbon into oil. In 2006, the carbon ceramics were manufactured from waste leaves and trunks of palm tree with annealing using by a newly introduced vacuum and N2 purge furnace. In the future, physical properties including sliding properties, etc. will be evaluated, and the examinations of molding and the annealing conditions for practical use will be carried out.