We have established the Center for Membrane and Film Technology in Kobe University in 2007, which is the 〓rst and only-one university-driven membrane research center in Japan. Currently we are collaborating with about 80 industrial companies, as well as partnering with 14 academic membrane research centers overseas. In 2015, the integrated membrane research building (6000 m²) finished its construction and started its operation. It is the most diverse research unit integrating all aspects from basic to applied research. Furthermore, our membrane center was changed to directly belong to university and renamed as “Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology” in 2019. In this paper, I will introduce our researches about water treatment and organic solvent separation in our Membrane Center.

Cellulose nano〓bers (CNFs) are a fundamental component of plant cell walls, and 〓bers of 4 to 20nm width can be obtained by simple disintegration of paper pulp. Since the nano〓bers are made of semi-crystalline extended cellulose chains, they exhibit high elasticity (approximately 140GPa), high strength (approximately 3GPa), and low thermal expansion (approximately 0.1ppm〓K), with a density of 1.6g〓cm3. Because of these excellent mechanical properties and their high speci〓c surface area, the utilization of CNFs has gained increasing attention across the world. In this paper, after reviewing the production of CNFs reinforced plastics and their utilizations, the future perspective of CNFs materials for structural application will be introduced.

(Bio)chemical sensors based on paper substrates show attractive features such as being low cost, portable and disposable. Therefore, the technology is currently used in urinary dipsticks and immunochromatographic test strip. In recent years, many research groups report studies on microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs). In spite of the simplicity of paper-based platforms, μPADs enable performing complicated analytical procedures, multiplex target analysis and equipment-free detection. Due to these useful functions, μPADs are paid attention for point-of-care testing (POCT) and for 〓eld-deployable analysis. Herein, we introduce the fabrication methodology and clinical applications of μPADs developed by our research group.

Cellophane is a transparent cellulose film developed over 100 years ago. SAFLON is a composite sheet that is regenerated after applying or impregnating viscose on paper or nonwoven fabric. Viscopearl is a regenerated material made by solidifying viscose droplets into a spherical shape. In this paper, I will introduce each feature and application, and examples that are attracting attention as environmentally conscious products.

We developed a high-strength and elastic modulus composite sheet that uses only CNF and pulp. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the CNF sheet material are 5 times higher than those of plastics at room temperature because we made this CNF sheet material with high CNF content. Moreover, the elastic modulus at high temperature is 20 times. We successfully developed the CNF sheet material as good performance racket parts for table tennis. It was found that using the racket made of CNF sheet material makes the ball hit faster. The table tennis racket using the CNF sheet material was released in April 2020. In addition, some parts made of CNF sheet material were attached to the electric vehicles that participated in the race. The race car has been made lighter by replacing steels or resins with CNF sheet materials. This report introduces the development of CNF sheet material.

Musa Basjoo, a kind of banana, belongs to the herb and grows in warm area in Japan. The leaf of Musa Basjoo has been used in a summer traditional event in the south area of Ehime prefecture. However, Musa Basjoo is cut down and discarded when the event 〓nishes. As a result of consideration to e〓ectively utilize the discarded Musa Basjoo, we have succeeded in isolating 〓bers from the stem of Musa Basjoo and making a sheet of the 〓bers. We have named the sheet “Basjoo Washi” due to have a good texture like the Japanese paper “Washi”. Basjoo Washi has some interesting features because of containing cellulose nano〓bers. In this study, we show the features of Basjoo Washi and report the activities for giving vitality to the south area of Ehime prefecture with Basjoo Washi.

Sulfated polysaccharides inhibit the infection of viruses such as HIV, influenza, and dengue fever viruses by electrostatic interaction between negatively charged sulfate groups of sulfated polysaccharides and positively charged amino acids of virus surface proteins. This review deals with recent results on the development of membrane 〓lters with virus adsorption functionality and their mechanism by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS).

Nonwoven is listed as one of the industrial materials, which is so closed to our life style up to the current. The hygiene application that the nonwovens are especially used pretty much like diapers and sanitary napkins is the representative. That means kind to the skin, and then the other properties like the 〓tness or softness et al. have been improved. Through the suitable technical design to the demand, nonwoven changed the functional products, not just the general. On the other hand, nonwoven for the industrial application can’t avoid recognizing to be the one of the materials, which is under the target of the cost reduction. In this paper, we introduce the outline about our new business model on going ahead the next product design, which the new concept is the major in the industrial field, not only in the hygiene. On this base, the technology developed in the hygiene application is utilized to the industrial.